In Conversation: Recent Episodes
2MBS Fine Music Sydney
In Conversation is brought to you by 2MBS Fine Music Sydney.
In each episode, our host, Simon Moore, speaks to one of the important figures who make up Australia’s artistic landscape.
Over the course of the program, you’ll hear all about our guest’s life, work and interests, along with a number of musical pieces of their choice.
Opera singer Katherine Wiles has been a permanent member of the Opera Australia chorus since 2007, and has performed several principal roles there as well as in South Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. She’s performed at the Edinburgh Festival and on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Katherine's new book, No Autographs Please, tells the tale of the backstage antics, onstage disasters and the long road to success of an opera singer. Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan says that her account of life as a chorus member is "full of wit and behind the scenes revelations", while Todd McKenney says that the book proves that "the real stars of any show are the chorus".
Katherine tells us about her inspiration for writing this book, and gives us a no holds barred take on what it's like taking your bow from the second row.
No Autographs Please is out now from all good book retailers.
A composer who Australian Stage has dubbed “the most interesting voice in Australian composition for many years”, Harry Sdraulig has risen to prominence through a string of collaborations with renowned artists and organisations. He’s composed for The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva, the Australia Ensemble, as well as the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmanian, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, and has also been commissioned by cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Harry shares some great insights and perspectives on the life a composer, and he introduces some of the compositions which have featured at key points of his career.
Harry Sdraulig's new work, Triptych, is performed by the Omega Ensemble as part of their Concertante tour, 1-5 October in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle.
“The complete package!” is how Tim Draxl has been described for his performance as Joe Gillis in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard, currently playing at the Sydney Opera House. That part is just the latest in a long line of Tim’s roles in his 20-plus year career which has garnered him nominations for AACTAs, Logies, and a Helpmann Award. On stage he has appeared in musicals such as Jagged Little Pill, Into the Woods and Catch Me If You Can. He is a familiar face on TV, most particularly for his long running role in A Place to Call Home, and more recently the ABC series about the Australian response to the AIDS crisis, In Our Blood. His films include Swimming Upstream and Blacklight among many others. He’s also no stranger to cabaret, and has released four albums.
Tim takes us through his career from budding cabaret performer, through his time in Hollywood and to his most recent roles. He candidly shares the story of coming out publicly, his embrace of which has led him to be a part of several ground-breaking productions and being an inspiration for many LGTBQIA+ Australians, young and old.
Tim Draxl plays Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House until 1 November.
Australia’s very own “genius of jazz”, James Morrison has entertained audiences here and overseas for over 40 years. He’s played with many jazz legends, including Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and Don Burrows, to name just a few. He frequents the world’s greatest jazz clubs in New York, Paris and London, has performed for US Presidents and British Monarchs, and has received countless awards and nominations.
James takes us through his somewhat unorthodox entrée into music, the inspiration from playing with so many jazz legends as a younger musician and his passion for helping emerging artists now. We also hear about his love of being behind the wheel of everything from coaches to aircraft.
James Morrison performs with Romanian jazz sensation Marian Petrescu at venues around Australia during September, including at the City Recital Hall on Monday 16 September thanks to Live at Yours.
"Totally embraceable" and "larger than life" is how critics have described Rhonda Burchmore. An actor and singer who has entertained Australians for four decades, she has forged a career across stage and screen. Her musical theatre credits are vast, from Mame and Annie Get Your Gun to Mamma Mia and Hairspray. She’s no stranger to cabaret, has released seven albums, and has also written her autobiography.
Rhonda shares some highlights from her long career, taking us back to her earliest days when the passion for performing was clearly in her blood. She reminisces about the excitement and opportunities of live to air performances on popular TV variety shows such as The Don Lane Show and The Bert Newton Show, the trials of her stint on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and we hear some of the music which has shaped her life.
Rhonda Burchmore is currently dressing up eight times a week as a nun, for the riotous feel-good musical Sister Act playing now at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre until late October before heading to Melbourne and the other major state capitals.
An Australian pianist who has taken the world by storm, Andrea Lam has performed with orchestras across Australia, the US, Japan and China, and in venues from the Sydney Opera House to New York’s Carnegie Hall. Words used to describe her playing include “sensitive”, “riveting” and “mesmerising”, and the Wall Street Journal has pronounced her “a real talent”.
Andrea takes us through her upcoming album, Sad Piano, music by Matthew Hindson, who Andrea has been friends with most of her life. We hear about her journey with the piano, her career living and performing in New York, plus the relevance of both star jumps and spaghetti bolognese!
Visit andrealam.com for all the details of Andrea's upcoming performances.
A violinist known for phenomenal technique, persuasive interpretations, and ravishing tones, Augustin Hadelich has performed across the world. He's appeared with orchestras from the Berlin and London Philharmonics to Tokyo’s NHK Symphony and our own Sydney Symphony Orchestra. His recordings cover a wide range of the violin repertoire, and in 2016 he won a Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. He has a new album out this month – American Road Trip – and in this program Augustin takes us on that journey through some of the greats of American violin music. He shares with us stories of his life playing the violin, without a Rubik's cube in sight!
International icon Sarah Brightman began her stage career at the age of just 13, and never looked back. She’s best known for creating the role of Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera both in the West End and on Broadway, the cast album of which is the highest selling cast album in history. She went on to a stellar recording career, having released dozens of albums. She’s now in Australia, ready for her close up, performing the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Sunset Boulevard.
Sarah revisits the early days of her career development. We hear about her breakthrough in Cats, the success of The Phantom of the Opera, plus her subsequent recording career which includes iconic performances with Andrea Bocelli and José Carreras. Sarah also tells about training to be an astronaut!
Sarah Brightman stars as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard from 28 August to 1 November at the Sydney Opera House.
French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca has been hailed by Gramophone as “a master of his instrument” and by Le Monde as belonging to “the French Cello Elite”. He has appeared at major concert venues around the world, whether it’s Paris, New York, London or Vienna. He performs across musical genres, and his recordings receive unanimous critical acclaim.
In this conversation, Christian-Pierre delves into two of his albums of recent years, Cello360 and his environmentally themed project Wonderful World, both of which have appeared in concert, plus a preview of his new album, Legacy. He also talks about the challenges and opportunities for artists of the modern era of social media and streaming services.
This edition of In Conversation was recorded at the 2024 Australian Festival of Chamber Music, in Townsville. The next festival runs from 25 July to 4 August 2025.
James O'Donnell is one of the leading organists and choral conductors of his generation. He was Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, and subsequently Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey for over 20 years, during which time he was responsible for the music at several significant events – most notably the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Katherine, and the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Since 2023 he has been Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at Yale.
In this conversation, James shares some of the history of the remarkable institutions he has served, and we delve into some of the recordings he has made with the Choirs of Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. We also hear about some of the broader responsibilities which came with his service at Westminster Abbey.
James O'Donnell performs the opening recital for the new Bicentennial pipe organ at St James King Street on Friday 26 July.
A two-time Grammy nominee, Rod Gilfry is a singer and actor who performs across opera, musicals, recitals and cabaret, all over the world. His opera repertoire in particular is vast, spanning 75 roles. He’s come to Opera Australia and the Sydney Opera House to perform one of the many roles in new operas that he has created – Claudius in Brett Dean’s Hamlet, directed by Neil Armfield. Rod has already performed this role at the Met in New York and at Glyndebourne in the UK.
Rod takes us through his long career which began in school choirs and musicals in California, and speaks passionately about some of the roles he has played. In particular, he takes us through the joys and challenges of creating some of these new roles, including his acclaimed performance in A Streetcar Named Desire.
Rod Gilfry play Claudius in Brett Dean's Hamlet from 20 July to 9 August in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House.
The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, undoubtedly ranks as one of the world’s best-known choral groups. Founded in the 15th Century, the choir’s main function is to sing in the daily services in King’s College Chapel, but it has long since spread its wings far broader than that, generating worldwide fame through a wealth of recordings and an extensive international tour schedule.
Daniel Hyde has been Musical Director since 2019. His distinguished career as an organist and choral conductor includes roles at Jesus College, Cambridge, at Magdalen College, Oxford, and most recently at Saint Thomas Church in New York. Daniel talks about the long history and significance of the choir, and how he came to be inspired by this timeless musical tradition.
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, tours Australia thanks to Musica Viva, from 21 July to 5 August.
One of the world’s leading young harpsichordists, Justin Taylor has released numerous award-winning solo recordings, and is one of the founders of the internationally renowned period ensemble, Le Consort. The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s artistic director Paul Dyer calls him "a true master of the harpsichord". He comes to the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra stage to be part of a rare performance of JS Bach’s Concerto for Four Harpsichords.
Justin speaks about the intricacies and subtleties of playing the harpsichord and other period keyboards. He elaborates on how the sound production of original keyboard instruments of different eras informs the performance of the music, giving us a greater understanding of what the composer intended.
Justin Taylor performs with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in Sydney and Melbourne from 5-14 July.
A musical theatre actor responsible for some of the most notable performances on our stages, Anthony Warlow began his career with the Australian Opera in 1980. He has since become a household name thanks to his work in The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Annie, My Fair Lady, Jeckyll & Hyde to name only a few, while also performing with Opera Australia for The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, The Pirates of Penzance, and more. He’s performed on Broadway and the West End, and has several albums to his name.
In this extended version of the broadcast edition, Anthony displays his deep understanding of how to create a successful performance, time and again. We hear stories about his journey to the stage, and about some of the roles that have made him one of Australia's popular and successful musical theatre performers.
Anthony Warlow plays Billy Flynn, the lawyer who lets you get away with murder, in Chicago, on now at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.
French-German cellist Nicolas Altstaedt is one of the most sought after and versatile musicians today, performing repertoire spanning early music to the contemporary, as a soloist, conductor and artistic director. He’s performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic, to name only a few. His conducting has taken him to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Budapest Festival Orchestra and more. As a chamber musician he’s collaborated with Joshua Bell, Janine Jansen and Pekka Kuusisto, amongst many other, and has recorded 15 albums.
In this conversation Nicolas enthusiastically talks about his craft and shares music from his contemporaries who inspire him most. He articulately describes the variations between the different ensembles with which he has collaborated. His energy and insights shine a fresh light into the works he performs.
Nicolas Altstaedt is in Australia to guest direct the Australian Chamber Orchestra until 30 June.
A global artist who has enjoyed chart-topping success, international tours, and celebrated collaborations, violinist Vov Dylan enjoys taking audiences to a place where the classical meets the contemporary, coalescing with world music and jazz.
He’s premiered works by some of this country’s finest composers, including Elena Kats-Chernin, Margaret Brandman and Ann Carr-Boyd. He has two new albums coming soon – Elevation, featuring the works of those composers as well as Stuart Greenaum, Ross Edwards and others, plus La Vida Apasionada, an album of works by Margaret Brandman.
Vov talks about his life as a working musician – from serenading in biker bars through to introducing international audiences to Australian works, plus how a couple of bottles of Bollinger may well have been the deciding factor for a career in music!
A singer songwriter who has proven herself as one of this country’s most hard-working, versatile, and prolific artists, Katie Noonan flourishes in every genre. She performs and composes across classical, jazz and rock music. She’s recorded a massive 28 albums, with a 29th on the way, garnering 28 ARIA nominations which have include five wins. Having already been part of her indie rock band George, producing highly successful albums including Polyserena which went triple platinum, she went on to found her jazz trio Elixir. In 2021, she founded the Australian Vocal Ensemble (AVÉ), a vocal quartet with a special focus on new Australian compositions.
Katie discusses the full breadth of her remarkable musical journey, and the other artists who have inspired her along the way.
Katie Noonan and the Australian Vocal Ensemble join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for their annual Chorus Oz concert on Sunday 9 June in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. She and fellow AVÉ member, Andrew O’Connor, have composed An Instrument of Peace, a new work which will be performed at this concert alongside Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.
A conductor who has established an outstanding reputation for a charismatic stage presence and powerful interpretations of an extensive repertoire, Dr Nicholas Milton has conducted orchestras across Europe and Australia. He has over 60 albums to his name as both a conductor and as a violinist, and has been nominated for a Grammy.
As chief conductor of the Göttinger Symphony Orchestra, he spends much of the year in Germany, but he still calls Australia home. And one home that is particularly dear to his heart is his role as chief conductor of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra.
Nicholas shares some musical highlights that we have in store for the rest of the year with the Willoughby Symphony, and takes us on a journey through his impressive career, from his time as a young successful violinist to becoming a sought after conductor.
A French-Australian flautist who is very much the household name, Jane Rutter has been a shining light of our classical music scene for well over 30 years. She’s shared billings with world renowned stars such as Lucciano Pavarotti and Michael Crawford, and performed with the full gamut of our own artists in Australia, from Tina Arena to the Australian Chamber Orchestra. She performs regularly in Paris and around the world, and more locally there are her famous Live at Lunch concerts at The Concourse in Chatswood.She’s recorded an uncountable number of albums for which she’s received four ARIA nominations. Limelight magazine called her “a leading female influence in the world of classical music."Jane shares some great stories of her journey and the people who helped shape her as a musician. She discusses some of the trailblazing she has done through her career, both willingly and inadvertently, and being at the forefront of how classical repertoire is presented in the modern era.
A much loved baritone from New Zealand, Teddy Tahu Rhodes has captured the hearts of audiences here in Australia and in many parts of the world. An ARIA, Helpmann, and Limelight award-winner, he has given renowned performances in classics such as Don Giovanni and Carmen, and premiere performances in new works including The End of the Affair and Dead Man Walking. He’s performed for Opera Australia, the Metropolitan Opera, the Welsh National Opera and the Bavarian State Opera to name just a few, and regularly sings in concert. Limelight magazine said of his voice “there is a velvet richness, a great resonance, and a touching sense of fragility."
Teddy takes us through his evolution as a singer, from boy soprano to opera star, and getting through his uncertainty and unwillingness in grasping his first big break.
Teddy Tahu Rhodes performs Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs under the artistic direction of Brett Weymark at the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on 18 May. He then performs in La Rondine for the Victorian Opera from 8-10 August, and then returns to the role of Scarpia for performances of Tosca with the Wellington Opera, from the 11-15 September.
In Conversation is on location this week at Melbourne's Hamer Hall to speak with an artist who truly deserves the title of Broadway Royalty. Audra McDonald has won six Tony awards – more performance wins than any other actor, and the only person to win for leading and featured roles in both straight theatre and musicals. Her wins include turns in Carousel, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and perhaps most notably, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. She’s featured in many well-loved television shows, such as The Good Fight, and The Gilded Age, as well as feature films including the live action version of Beauty and the Beast.
As a classical soprano, she's performed with the Houston Grand Opera and the Los Angeles Opera, has sung with many symphony orchestras including the Berlin and New York Philharmonics, and she’s won two Grammy awards.
In this conversation, Audra takes us through her career from her childhood roles at a dinner theatre in Fresno, California, through her time at Juilliard to her subsequent success and how that's shaped her career choices and advocacy for civil rights.
Audra McDonald performs in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on Saturday May 11, QPAC in Brisbane on May 15, and Hamer Hall in Melbourne on May 17, having already presented concerts in Perth and Adelaide at the time this program was published.
One of this country’s pre-eminent directors, Neil Armfield has a list of credits which is vast, spanning original works and revived classics, directing shows across the world, including on the West End and on Broadway. He’s also of course no stranger to opera, having directed several productions for Opera Australia, as well as for some of the world’s other great opera houses including Covent Garden and the English National Opera. A founder and former artistic director of Belvoir Street, he has been a key figure in the shape of Australian theatre for nearly five decades.
His current project is directing a revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, a production which ran in Melbourne last year when Limelight magazine called it “outstanding" and The Guardian said Tony award winner “Anthony LaPaglia leads an electric, devastating tragedy”.
Neil speaks about why this piece of mid-20th Century American theatre is so iconic and relevant in today's world. We hear about his life in the theatre, which began with directing his school play in his final year of high school, to working with some of the greats in both Australia and internationally in the subsequent decades.
Death of a Salesman plays at Sydney's Theatre Royal from 17 May.
Watershed, which Neil directed as part of the Adelaide Festival in 2022, will be presented by Opera Australia in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House from 14-16 June.
Hamlet, which Neil directed for Glyndebourne in 2017 and has since been performed by many opera houses around the world including The Met in New York, will be presented by Opera Australia in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House from 20 July - 5 August.
A distinguished conductor with a large repertoire of recordings, Osmo Vänskä has been chief conductor of orchestras in many parts of the world, including the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in his native Finland, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra. His repertoire may be vast, but it’s the music of his native Finland, and in particular the music of Sibelius, for which the New York Times noted that Osmo is “one of the most important contemporary interpreters”.
Osmo discusses the music of Sibelius and its importance to Finland, as well as sharing inspirational stories from his life as a conductor.
Osmo Vänskä conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for selections of Sibelius’s original and profound music 24-27 April, and conducts the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for Sibelius and Beethoven on 3-4 May.
Mandela Mathia is actor who has had an extraordinary journey from his origins in war-torn South Sudan, leading him to the stage of the Belvoir Street Theatre. It’s that remarkable story of joy and loss, perseverance and hope, that is now the subject of his one man show, Lose to Win, which plays at the Belvoir Theatre from 25 April to 19 May.
Mandela takes us through his life of uncertainty, loss, famine and war, to settling in Australia as a refugee and his vocation as an actor that helps share that story more broadly.
A flautist who has been described by one critic as “playing her way into the hearts of music lovers”, Bridget Bolliger has performed regularly in Australia, Switzerland and Brazil. In Europe, she’s played with several orchestras including as principal flute of the St Gallen Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Zurich Opera Orchestra, the Basel Symphony Orchestra and the Zürich Chamber Orchestra. In Brazil, she was principal flute of the Sinfonica de Sao Paulo, and in her country of birth she’s played with the Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland Symphony Orchestras amongst many others. She’s well and truly settled back in Australia, and in 2008 founded the Sydney Chamber Music Festival.
Last year she released her latest album, Pearls, a collaboration with her brother Philip.
Bridget takes us on a journey through her remarkable life and career, through the many challenges, inspirations and lighter moments she has experienced, and thoughtfully introduces some of the music that has carrier her along the way.
One of Australia's most notable and well-loved composers, Elena Kats-Chernin has written for ensembles large and small – from operas and piano concertos to the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Her work is a mainstay of performers at home and internationally, and the number of recordings of her works are countless. Not resting on her laurels, she’s created a new arrangement of her Ornamental Air for Basset Clarinet, which is to be performed by David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble as part of their upcoming tour Re: Classica. She is also an artistic patron of 2MBS Fine Music Sydney.
In her always engaging and infectiously positive manner, Elena takes us on a deep dive into her background and how she brings her compositions to life.
Her Clarinet Concerto Ornamental Air (new version) will be performed by David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Penrith between the 12th and 20th of April.
A singer with a distinguished career which spans four continents, Helpmann-nominated Simon Lobelson has established himself as a one of the most versatile baritones of his generation. He's performed over 90 operatic roles spanning the baroque to the contemporary, with companies including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the English National Opera, as well as our own Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera. In concert, he’s performed with the Sydney Symphony, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and many ensembles overseas.
In this conversation, Simon explores his musical inspirations and shares some personal reflections on life and the evolution of his illustrious career.
Simon Lobelson performs with Music @ VJs on 7 April.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour returns with the smash-hit musical West Side Story. It's one of the most famous and loved pieces of musical theatre ever written, and this production promises dynamic dance numbers and stunning voices on an over-water stage, with the unique backdrop of the Sydney skyline and harbour.
Playing Riff in this production is Patrick Whitbread. He has been touring Australia and New Zealand for almost a decade, appearing in some much-loved shows, including Mary Poppins, The Book of Morman, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Matilda the Musical and Cats. In this conversation, Patrick gives a preview of the joys and challenges of this scale of musical. He shares tales of his life in musical theatre which he became involved in from a very young age.
West Side Story plays on Sydney Harbour at Mrs Macquaries Point until 21 April.
One of today’s most notable and exciting keyboard artists, Kristian Bezuidenhout is equally at home on either the fortepiano, harpsichord, or modern piano, but it's in period keyboards that he has specialised. Now based in London, he’s led many ensembles, including the English Consort, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Les Art Florissant, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra to name only a few, and has recorded nearly 30 albums. He’s a great friend of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and he’s back in Australia to guest direct the orchestra.
In this conversation, Kristian takes us on a deep dive into the fortepiano and why he has become so enamoured with this era of keyboard. We hear about the subtleties required for this instrument and the variations it acquired over time.
Kristian Bezuidenhout directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra for Beethoven's Emperor around Australia until 24 March.
The imaginative and versatile Finnish virtuoso pianist Paavali Jumppanen has established himself as a dynamic musician of seemingly unlimited capability who has cut a wide swathe as an orchestral and recital soloist and artistic director of both the classic and contemporary. He’s performed in the US, Europe, Japan, China, Japan and Australia, and it is in Australia that he has made a second home, as since 2021 he has been the artistic director of the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne.
Paavali gives us a great insight into ANAM and their philosophy and methods, and we hear about his own musical journey including recording the entirety of Beethoven's piano sonatas.
Paavali Jumpannen directs the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for Marvellous Mozart from 7-9 March at various locations. Musicians of ANAM will be performing Arnold Schönberg's Gurrelieder with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Simone Young on 15-16 March at the Sydney Opera House.
One of the leading violinists of his generation, Renaud Capuçon is known and loved for his poise, depth of tone, and virtuosity. He has worked with luminaries including Charles Dutoit, Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim, and with all the major orchestras, whether it’s the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and many, many more. He has recorded over 20 albums, and one reviewer labelled him “an uninhibited musician at the peak of his art”. He’s in Sydney giving the Australian premiere of the violin concerto composed for him by Camille Pépin, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by its chief conductor Simone Young.
Renaud speaks about key moments in his career, providing insights into the life a of a top tier musician such as himself. We also hear about his role as artistic director of the Menuhin Music Academy plus the story of his remarkable instrument, played for many years by Isaac Stern.
Renaud Capuçon performs Pépin's Violin Concerto La Sommeil a pris ton empreinte (Sleep retains your imprint) with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under chief conductor Simone Young from 28 February to 2 March, a concert which also includes a performance of Mahler's Symphony no 5.
“The Unconventional Pop Star” and “The Angel of Australia” are two phrases that have been used to describe soprano sensation Mirusia. She was the youngest ever winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Opera Award and has toured extensively with show-stopping violinist André Rieu. Together, they released the album Waltzing Matilda, which went platinum and to number 1 on the ARIA charts.
Mirusia releases Classique, her first purely classical album of arias, on February 23. In this program, Mirusia previews the album and shares a few tracks. She also talks about the journey to her remarkable career, plus we hear the inside story of working with André Rieu.
Kate Raison is an actor who is a familiar face for Australian theatre goers and television viewers. From a single guest role as an un-named nurse in an episodes of Sons and Daughters, she was a regular on dramas such as A Country Practice, Home and Away, and E-Street. Her theatre work has seen her perform in plays as disparate as Dark Voyager, Mary Stuart and The Torch Song Trilogy, and more recently she was fêted for her roles in Two and Killing Katie: Confessions of a Book Club. She’s currently rehearsing for The Great Divide, the latest work from living legend David Williamson for the Ensemble Theatre, which plays from 8 March to 27 April.
Kate talks about the joys of working on a new Williamson play, reminisces about those early TV roles that made her so familiar to audiences, and the joys and challenges of working in live theatre.
A violinist in great demand internationally, UK-born Andrew Haveron is currently the concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, having previously served in that role with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. As first violinist with the internationally acclaimed Brodsky Quartet he recorded more than 15 albums and collaborated with a diverse cross section of artists. Despite keeping busy with the Sydney Symphony he is still able to perform in chamber recitals, including with Katheryn Selby and the Omega Ensemble, and in February he returns to the Great Synagogue in Sydney for Vienna's Golden Age, opening a new year of concerts for Live at Yours.
Andrew talks about his school life at the Purcell School for Young Musicians in London, and his time with the Brodsky Quartet. He explains his move to the role of Concertmaster, providing an inside view of the nuances and responsibilities of one of the most important roles in a symphony orchestra.
The King's Singers represent the gold standard in a cappella singing, and have performed on the world’s stages from London to New York, and from Sydney to Singapore. They are renowned for unrivalled technique, impeccable vocal blend, as well as a healthy dose of delightful British wit. Bass singer Jonathan Howard is the ensemble's current longest serving member, now in his second decade with the group. In this conversation, Johnny takes us on a deep dive into what makes this remarkable ensemble tick and shares the joys that vocal music has brought him throughout his life.
The King's Singers are touring Australia from 18-23 March with concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.
A musician who has received international recognition for his comprehensive body of work, Benjamin Skepper combines classical aesthetics with contemporary art, science, technology and the avant-garde. His art studio, Contrapuntal, creates multi-artform installations, performances and events. For this year’s Sydney Festival, he’s co-curated a festival within the festival – Temperament, which delves into the music of JS Bach from every possible angle. It features performances by a range of our top ensembles, and Benjamin himself is performing his show Praeludium y Fuga.
In this in-depth interview, Benjamin talks about his work with the Sydney Festival, the origins of his innovative multi-artform performances and compositions, plus his incredible journey through life which includes his first international performance tour at the age of 10, his human rights work in Cambodia, and his experience of the transformative power of music.
Benjamin Skepper performs Praeludium y Fuga at The Neilson on 27 and 28 January.
Stanley Dodds is a violinist and conductor whose career spans three decades. He has been a violinist with the Berlin Philharmonic since 1994, and principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2014. He’s conducted around the world, from our own Melbourne, Tasmanian and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, to the Hamburg, Vancouver and Beijing Symphony Orchestras, amongst many others. He also has a passion for music education, which makes him the ideal choice for his latest appointment as the new chief conductor of the Sydney Youth Orchestra.
Stan talks eloquently about his inspirational musical journey as both a violinist and conductor. He introduces a number of works which will feature in SYO programs throughout 2024, providing great insights into the nature and importance of the music, and the excitement he wants to inspire in our next generation of musicians.
Cathy Milliken's Catalogue of the Sky performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simone Young kindly provided by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Gabriela Ortiz's Téenek, Invenciones de Territorio performed by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel kindly provided by Deutschlandradio.
In Conversation begins a new year with an event synonymous with Sydney in January – the Sydney Festival. Simon Moore is joined by Festival Director Olivia Ansell, who whets our appetite on some of the 130 events across the 24 days of the 2024 Sydney Festival.
Now in the role for three years, she brings over 20 years experience as an artist, key creative, promoter and producer, working across tourism, media and entertainment. Her previous credits include working as Head of Contemporary Performance at the Sydney Opera House and being voted one of Vivid’s top creative catalysts.
Olivia also shares stories from her journey in the creative arts, which began in a childhood home full of musicians and performers of all kinds.
The Sydney Festival runs until 28 January.
In the final program for 2023, Simon Moore is joined by an Australian arts leader who has made a name for herself internationally. Fiona Allan has been in senior roles, including artistic director, of theatres, venues and events from the Sydney Film Festival and the Australian National Academy of Music, to the Arts Council in England and the Millennium Centre in Wales. Until a few years ago she was in charge of the UK’s busiest single theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome, and it was from there that she returned to her home town of Sydney to become the current CEO of Opera Australia.
Fiona reveals elements of how Opera Australia will continue to evolve and develop into the future, including working with new artistic director Jo Davies, and shares stories from her long career in arts management in both Australia and the UK.
Soprano Julie Lea Goodwin performs across opera, musical theatre, and classical cross-over. She has played Musetta in La Bohème and Maria in West Side Story for Opera Australia. She performed opposite Anthony Warlow in Phantom of the Opera, and has sung as a soloist with many of Australia’s Symphony Orchestras. With Christmas in the air, she’ll be joining the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for Carols at the House for three concerts from 15th to the 17th of December in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.
Julie Lea knew she wanted to be a performer from a very early age, and tells stories of singing to the horses on the family’s property out of Brisbane and enjoying the old Hollywood musicals on video. She charts her carer from her remarkable early break as Christine in Phantom of the Opera, through making her debut with Opera Australia and singing with orchestras and ensembles around the country.
An actor for over 25 years, Jamie Oxenbould has performed at the full spectrum of Sydney theatres, whether it’s the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin or the Ensemble. He’s worked in film and television, and his voice is familiar to us on animations and TV ads. He’s back at the Ensemble Theatre to star in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall, a new play that he’s co-written with the Ensemble’s artistic director Mark Kilmurry.
Jamie talks about the inspiration for and the creation of this new play, and we get some insights into the secrets and mysteries of creating a successful comedy. We hear about the art of voice acting and Jamie also introduces a diverse selection of music which has inspired him over the years.
Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall plays at the Ensemble from December 1 through to January 14.
This week, In Conversation celebrates the 60th anniversary of a television phenomenon which has captivated audiences of all ages. Doctor Who is loved by millions around the world. Aside from its official television incarnation, it’s seen two feature films, three stage plays, five spin-off series, hundreds of original audio dramas and novels, and countless unofficial fan made magazines, novels, videos plays, and more than a few podcasts.
Katy Manning played the role of Jo Grant in three seasons opposite Jon Pertwee’s Doctor in the early 70s. Australian theatre audiences will be familiar with her time based in Sydney, when she appeared in such plays as Run for your Wife and Educating Rita, as well as her remarkable performance in Me and Jezebel.
Katy shares some wonderful stories not just from her time in Doctor Who, but also her long and varied career in theatre and television. We hear about some of the many people she’s met along the way, including Judy Garland, Barry Crocker and her life-long friend Liza Minelli, as well as the origins of her one woman play Not a Well Woman.
This is an extended version of the original broadcast edition.
Katya Apekisheva has earnt her place as one of Europe’s most renowned pianists. Grammophone Magazine described her as a “profoundly gifted artist”. She’s performed across the world in auspicious venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, and appears on multiple albums. This week, her latest album with fellow pianist Charles Owen is released on the Orchid Classics label, featuring the music of Poulenc, Debussy and Milhaud.
Katya talks about her upbringing and tuition at the tail end of the Soviet system, her collaborations with Charles and other musicians, plus introduces a diverse selection of works that have shaped her musical inspiration and career development.
This interview was recorded at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville earlier this year. Festival director Jack Liebeck curated a delightful schedule of concerts, talks and other events for his second year as artistic director, bringing artists together from around Australia and all over the world. The next AFCM takes place from 26 July to 4 August 2024.
Miles Mullin-Chivers began playing the cello at the age of just 4, and has been taught by some of this country’s most accomplished musicians. He’s performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, including as guest principal cellist, and with the Opera Australia Orchestra. He’s played with the Canberra International Music Festival, the Four Winds Festival, Musica Viva, Selby and Friends and Live at Yours, and has also appeared as a soloist. He will be one of many Australian musicians from around the world coming together as the Australian World Orchestra, under the baton of their founder and artistic director, Alexander Briger, to perform Mahler’s Symphony no 9, at the Arts Centre in Melbourne on 22 November and at the City Recital Hall Angel Place on 24 November.
Miles tells some light-hearted stories about his career development, from his somewhat unorthodox education to his time as a Sydney Symphony fellow, and shares his choices of music and musicians that have inspired him through that journey.
An exciting director whose career covers an impressively vast range of genres, Chen Shi-Zheng has directed for the world’s leading opera houses and festivals, including the Lincoln Center Festival, the Royal Opera House and the English National Opera. On film, he has directed Meryl Streep for his award-winning film Dark Matter, as well as Disney’s High School Musical China at the other end of the spectrum, and has made TV documentaries too. He’s now in Australia, rehearsing all four operas of Wagner’s monumental Ring Cycle for Opera Australia, to be performed in Brisbane in December.
Shi-Zheng reveals what is in store for this new production of one of opera's greatest masterpieces and shares his own journey of discovery to a work beloved by opera devotees. We hear about his childhood in China during the Cultural Revolution when his father was sent to a re-education camp, plus his experience directing Meryl Streep and the challenges of securing a diversity of work.
A concert pianist who is rapidly gaining international acclaim as a passionately virtuosic performer, Andrey Gugnin has been described by Gramophone magazine as having an “extraordinarily versatile and agile technique which serves an often inspired musical imagination”, and the BBC Music Magazine Awards named him the winner of the Instrumental Award for his recording of Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes & Piano Sonatas 1 & 2. His name is likely familiar to Australians as the winner of the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition, and it’s for the parent company of the competition, Piano+, that he is now touring in Australia, with recitals in Sydney and Melbourne, plus as musical director of the OutWest Piano Fest.
Andrey has a great affinity with Australia and speaks gratefully about the time he has spent here, the challenges of piano competitions and how his career has continued to blossom since his 2016 win in Sydney. He also speaks honestly and with great pain about the invasion of Ukraine perpetrated by the country of his birth.
50 years ago this week, a place was formally opened that is truly beloved by Sydney-siders, Australians, and the entire world. The Sydney Opera House is an unmistakable part of the cultural fabric of this city and the nation, and plays a substantial role in Australia's identity.
Louise Herron is the person ultimately responsible for this world heritage building. Since 2012, she has been the Sydney Opera House CEO, and has shepherded the venue through the most significant renewal of its 5 decade life.
In this conversation, Louise takes us inside this iconic building and reveals how things have changed and continue to evolve for the world's favourite opera house. We also find out a little more about the woman who inhabits what is perhaps the finest office in the world.
Violist Tahlia Petrosian is recognised as one of the foremost creative forces who is transforming classical music in the 21st Century.Her unique approach to classical performance has garnered international attention and acclaim for her ability to redefine the boundaries of the genre. She’s performed in venues from the Sydney Opera House to Wigmore Hall. A violist with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, she’s also the brains behind the exciting concept Klassik Underground, and the Financial Review called her “The Australian violist making classical music cool again”.
This conversation was recorded on a recent visit Tahlia made to Australia with members of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. In this fascinating discussion, she talks about repackaging classical music for a contemporary audience to entice new generations into the genre without sacrificing any musical integrity. Her diverse musical selections help to tell her story with both the Gewandhaus and Klassik Underground.
A name synonymous with musical theatre in Australia, Nancye Hayes started out in My Fair Lady back in 1961, and her list of credits is a catalogue of some of the most beloved shows and performances of the past half century or more. From Sweet Charity to Chicago, from Annie to Sweeny Todd she has it all covered. She’s back on stage in a new production of the Stephen Sondheim classic A Little Night Music from October 13 at the theatre that bears her name, the Hayes.
In this wide ranging conversation, Nancye talks about returning to the role of Madam Armfeldt for the third time for this production, shares some of the highlights of her long and distinguished career on the stage, plus takes us back to where it all began.
A multiple award winning German violinist, composer and arranger, Florian Willeitner integrates classical, jazz and folk music from all over the world, and has founded the production company Pool of Invention in pursuit of that goal. He’s touring Australia with the Vision String Quartet, thanks to Musica Viva. Conductor Jeffrey Tate described the quartet as “the most perfect expression of human behaviour", and Der Tagesspiegel praised them as “amazingly vivacious, vivid and electrifying".Florian has an incredibly refreshing take on making music, and his passion for reinvention and ensuring music remains relevant for modern audiences is infectious.Florian Willeitner and the Vision String Quartet will perform at the City Recital Hall on October 7 and 9.
An award-winning composer specialising in the rich and vibrant Latin American aesthetic, Daniel Rojas is an acclaimed pianist known for his stunning improvisations at the keyboard. Limelight Magazine has said he “is a master of his craft, both as a pianist and composer" and the Sydney Arts Guide has called his performances “energetic and emphatic” and “joyously explosive”.
He's bringing that energy once again to the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra on October 14 and 15, as he teams up with fellow pianist Yerim Lee to premiere his passionate new work Romanza y Danza de los Muertos.
Daniel talks about his influences behind this new composition, as well as his work more broadly, and takes us back to his childhood in Melbourne where his creativity with improvisation and composition developed from a very early age. He also shares his vast knowledge of the origins, characteristics and influences of Latin American music.
A true leader of the next generation of choral singers, Elizabeth Scott is a highly skilful choral conductor who has led the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ young adult choir Vox since 2008. She’s worked with the Queensland, Adelaide and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, and is a regular chorus master with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She also has a passion for contemporary choral composers, and it’s one such composer who is the centrepiece of the upcoming performance she will be conducting with Vox, of David Lang’s The Little Match Girl Passion, which has been defined as one of the most profound choral works of our time.
Elizabeth has spent her career nurturing and developing younger singers so that they have the tools to enjoy music throughout their entire life, including through the commissioning of new music.
Vox performs The Little Match Girl Passion, and other works, at the Verbruggen Hall on Saturday, October 14.
One of the most promising violinists of his generation, Théotime Langlois de Swarte is already a seasoned recitalist and chamber musician who has performed at prestigious venues all over the world. Captivating audiences since his early teens, Théotime is a regular with several baroque ensembles, including Les Arts Florissant plus his own period ensemble Le Consort. He’s in Australia now to guest direct the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra for a series of concerts with the enticing title of The Lover, at the City Recital Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre until 16 September.
Théotime shares his refreshing take on how to make classical music relevant in the modern era, the links between the classics, jazz and pop music, and gives us a taste of his remarkable career so far.
Violinist Emily Sun is in demand internationally for her compelling and captivating interpretations. She has appeared with almost all the major Australian symphony orchestras, as well as orchestras across Europe, China, and the US. She has played in world class venues from the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall, and has performed for royalty in both the UK and Belgium. Emily is the 2023 Artist-in-Association with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
In this interview, Emily shares memories of appearing as the schoolgirl soloist in the heartfelt 2011 documentary Mrs Carey's Concert, recalls playing for the then Prince of Wales now King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, describes her relationship with her unique instrument, and speaks about the remarkable resilience and resourcefulness of her father as a musician in Mao's China.
This interview was conducted at the 2023 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. Emily Sun is in recital at Elder Hall on September 9 as part being Artist-in-Association with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and plays with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the Sydney Opera House on September 15 and 16. She returns to Australia to perform with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra on November 17 and 18. The next Australian Festival of Chamber Music will take place from 26 July to 4 August 2024.
A legend of the musical theatre world, composer Claude-Michel Schönberg is one half of the team behind Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, and many other musicals. Of the Boublil-Schönberg writing team, it’s Claude-Michel who provides the music. The pair have been collaborating since their 1973 musical La Revolution Française, but it was their concept album of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables which led to a West End production, and for their work to be performed in all corners of the world.
Claude-Michel was in Sydney thanks to Opera Australia’s production of Miss Saigon, and in this conversation we hear about the inspiration behind this musical, the course of events which led to their international success with Les Misérables, as well as hearing about his unique relationship with music which has carried him throughout his life.
Actor, singer and dancer Rohan Browne has established an esteemed career spanning 25 years, and counting. His musical theatre credits in particular are impressive, including stints in The Boy from Oz, Singin' in the Rain, Cats, West Side Story and Chicago. On screen, he’s featured in Dance Academy, Miss Fisher’s Mysteries and Secret Bridesmaids Business to name just a few. He’s currently appearing as the illuminating, witty and immensely fun Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, playing now at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.
In this conversation, Rohan tells stories from his career, from his first lightning-fast audition to playing some of his dream roles, as well as sharing some of the unique challenges that comes with playing a candelabra!
A dynamic musician who cannot be constrained by a single musical genre, Heather Shannon burst into the public consciousness as part of the internationally renowned independent rock band The Jezabels, performing in venues from the Sydney Opera House to the O2 Arena in London, as well as at the legendary Glastonbury. Since that period, she’s been composing music in the classical genre, having worked with orchestras such as ACO Collective, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Orchestra, and it’s with The Metropolitan Orchestra that she will be performing her latest work, Strange Roses for Synthesizer and Orchestra, for its world premiere on Sunday August 20 at the Marrickville Town Hall.
In this conversation, Heather talks candidly about how a cancer diagnosis was the impetus for a change in her career direction, talks in detail about the inspiration behind her latest work, as well as giving some inside stories of the creation and evolution of The Jezabels. She speaks with great insight about her diverse musical choices, and her compositional style and techniques.
This week, In Conversation is on tour at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, in Townsville. Simon Moore caught up with French Horn player Katy Woolley, who has been dubbed by one critic as possibly the finest horn player of her generation and one of the UK’s greatest exports. She’s the principal horn of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and prior to that had been the principal horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, a position she had held from just 22 years of age. With that orchestra, as well as during guest appearances with the London Mozart Players and the New York Philharmonic, she’s performed some of the key parts of the solo horn repertoire.
In this conversation, Katy shares some honest thoughts about the ups and downs of her career, and speaks with enormous enthusiasm about her musical selections.
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music this year runs until 6 August. Festival director Jack Liebeck has curated an absolutely delightful schedule of concerts, talks and other events. It’s a great excuse for a winter break of great music in a perfect setting, next year’s festival will run from 26 July to 4 August 2024.
Widely regarded as one of the most exciting and talented baritones of his generation, Morgan Pearse made his professional debut with the English National Opera and has gone from strength to strength ever since, performing from the Concertgebouw to the Sydney Opera House, from New Zealand to Germany. Currently based in London, this interview was recorded on one of Morgan's visits home to Australia, when he performed with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
In this gentle and wide ranging conversation, Morgan speaks about the magic and power of live singing, and takes us through a diverse range of musical selections which highlight his passions and loves, and provides great insights into the life and performance practices of a singer.
An actress who has been a core part of the Australian Theatre, Film and Television industries for nearly 50 years, Belinda Giblin's credits are so numerous that it takes a while just to scroll through them all. Her stage work covers seminal pieces of theatre, from Blithe Spirit to The Removalists, and on television she’s appeared in any show of the past 50 years worth mentioning, whether it was The Sullivans, A Country Practice, Home and Away, not to mention that famous stint as the second coming of Pat the Rat in 1980s melodrama Sons and Daughters.
Fresh from her appearance in Suddenly Last Summer at the Ensemble Theatre, Belinda is now preparing for The Weekend, a new adaptation of Charlotte Wood’s best selling novel, opening at Belvoir on August 5.
In this light-hearted conversation, Belinda reveals some aspects of this new play, speaks fondly about her time working in what many regard as the golden era of Australian television, shares some music which is particularly memorable for her, plus much more.
A world renowned Australian violinist, Aria-nominated Ray Chen has redefined what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st Century. He has broken boundaries not just in his playing but in his embrace of modern technology, reaching out to a global audience of millions thanks to a captivating online presence. He’s spread his wings into the world of computer games, is a fashion icon thanks to a multi-year partnership with Armani, and has collaborated with Sting. He also has a serious commitment to music education which has even led him to launch a new music practicing app, called Tonic. He may fly all around the world to perform concerts but he still calls Australia home, and is currently touring the country.
In this fast moving and jovial conversation, Ray enthusiastically talks about his craft, the inspiration and methodology behind the Tonic music practice app, making his acting cameos, his energetic social media presence, and much more.
Tonic is available for iOS and Android. Ray performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Sydney Symphony from 12-15 July, and the Play with Ray concert, where three aspiring musicians get the chance to share the concert stage with him, is on 25 July.
Tanya Bannister is a pianist lauded by critics for playing with “intelligence, poetry and proportion”. The co-founder of both the AlpenKammerMusik in Austria and the Roadmaps Festival in New York, her career has taken her to many of the world’s great concert halls, from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She’s also a past winner of two different prestigious international piano competitions, including the Concert Artists Guild competition in New York, an organisation of which she is now the president. She is in Australia to be one of the jurists of the Sydney International Piano Competition, which runs from July 5-22.
In this conversation, Tanya shares her experiences from both sides of piano competitions, and talks about how winning is only the first step in selling yourself as a professional pianist.
There’s about to be a small settings change to how In Conversation appears in Apple Podcasts. In theory, this shouldn’t affect new episodes appearing in your feed, however I’m always skeptical about these sorts of transitions running as smoothly as advertised.
If you follow the show on Apple Podcasts, and you find that new episodes stop appearing every Wednesday around 1:30pm Eastern Australian Time, you just need to search for 2MBS In Conversation in Apple Podcasts, and you will find the feed again to follow.
To reiterate, this SHOULDN’T be necessary, and if it DOES happen it will only affect SOME Apple Podcasts listeners , but it's safest to mention in advance of the change.
Thank you for listening to In Conversation, the next episode will drop on Wednesday.
Soprano Jessica Pratt has well and truly established herself as an international opera star. She's been hailed by The New York Times as a soprano of “gleaming sound, free and easy high notes, agile coloratura runs and lyrical grace”, and is considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of some of belcanto’s most challenging repertoire. She’s back in Australia to appear in two Opera Australia productions – in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffman, as well as a one-night, one-woman concert of Mad Scenes with Jessica Pratt.
In this conversation, Jessica talks about belcanto and mad scenes, her inspirations and challenges, and we get a sneak preview from her forthcoming album, Delirio.
It’s often said that the Australian Chamber Orchestra is best described as an orchestra of soloists, and violinist Liisa Pallandi is one such soloist. She is ACO through and through, having been part of their emerging artists program back in 2012, and she’s been playing with the orchestra ever since, becoming a permanent member in 2015. She’s also performed with the Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmanian Symphony orchestras, as guest principal violin with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, and has played chamber music as far away as Denmark.
In this conversation, Liisa talks about her experience with the ACO emerging artist program, the inspiration from both her fellow ACO musicians and their guest artists, and the remarkable instrument she plays. She provides a number of insights into different styles of music and performance through her diverse musical selection.
The Australian Chamber Orchestra are performing concerts of the music of Mozart until 28 June at the City Recital Hall Angel Place, the Sydney Opera House as well as in the other state capitals. Liisa will also be co-directing the Sydney Youth Orchestra with her brother Jaan on 27 August to help celebrate the orchestra’s 50th birthday.
British violinist Thomas Gould is no stranger to Australia. The leader of the Britten Sinfonia, he has been described by The Guardian as an artist who “refuses to be defined by a single genre”. His repertoire certainly backs that up, having performed and recorded extensively with classical and jazz ensembles. He’s back now in Australia to perform Philip Glass’s 2nd Violin Concerto, The American Four Seasons, with the Omega Ensemble, commencing on Tuesday 20 June at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place before heading to Newcastle and Melbourne.
In this conversation, Thomas talks of his experience of performing Philip Glass, his love of the conductor-less environment, the inspiration he takes from other musicians in what he refers to as a new golden age of violin playing, plus much more. His musical selections reinforce the notion that he is not able to be defined by a single genre.
Masaaki Suzuki is internationally renowned as an expert in choral music and an accomplished organist, harpsichordist and conductor. The founder and artistic director of Bach Collegium Japan, he has recorded the entirety of Bach’s choral works, plus his concertos, orchestral suites, and solo works for harpsichord. His expertise extends well beyond Bach, having conducted repertoire as diverse as Britten, Beethoven, Mahler and Mendelssohn, but it’s Mozart that brings him to Australia as he conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, joined by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, for Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, June 7-10, at the Sydney Opera House.
In this conversation, Masaaki talks with great passion about the importance of Bach as a foundation stone to the composers who follow, shares some memorable tales from his earlier years, and introduces some of the vast number of recordings of Bach Collegium Japan.
David Greco has sung on some of the finest stages across Europe and makes regular appearances with Australia’s most renowned orchestras, including the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra as well as the Sydney Symphony. Internationally regarded for his interpretations of Schubert lieder and the solo works of JS Bach, this ARIA award-nominated artist is also the first Australian ever to have been appointed to a position with the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican. In June, he joins the Australian Haydn Ensemble for Die Stille Nacht from 16-24 June at the City Recital Hall plus various regional venues across NSW.
In this light hearted conversation, David regales us with some wonderful tales from his career, from appearing in the Opera Australia chorus through to working with some of Europe’s finest.
One of Australia’s best known and most performed composers, Ross Edwards has a career spanning more than 60 years, and counting. He has written for all genres, be it orchestral, chamber, choral, opera as well as for the screen. Now in his 80th year, Ross is still composing, and is helping to celebrate his 80th birthday by composing a clarinet concerto for David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble, to be premiered at the City Recital Hall on June 20.
In this wide ranging conversation, Ross shares some experiences from his long career, his inspirations, and compositional technique. He introduces a number of his own works, highlighting their origins and the musicians for whom they were written.
Nicolas Fleury has been playing the French horn since he was 8. He’s been principle horn of the Aurora Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and made guest appearances with a slew of orchestras around the world including the Sydney Symphony and London Symphony Orchestras. He’s performed live on the BBC, appeared alongside conductors like Charles Dutoit, Neville Marriner and John Gardiner, and he’s now settled in Australia as principal horn with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He’s made regular appearances with organisations around the country including Musica Viva and the Omega Ensemble.In this conversation, recorded while Nico was in Sydney to perform with the Omega Ensemble, Nico speaks with incredible passion about his craft and the amazing experiences he's had working with the world's top orchestras and conductors.
An Australian UK-based musical theatre performer with a wide and diverse range of credits to her name, Kara Lane made her West End debut back in 2011 with Lend me a Tenor, and has appeared in The Rocky Horror Show, The Addams Family, Oliver! and most notably as Mrs Banks in the international touring production of Mary Poppins. She doesn’t just hang around between roles, either, founding a vintage singing trio The Girls from Oz with some fellow expats in the UK.Recorded during one of her trips back to Australia, Kara talks about the journey from Rockhampton to London, arriving with just £30 in her pocket and breaking into the industry there with some unpredictable opportunities and auditions that take unexpected turns.
Umberto Clerici has gained quite the reputation as an artist of diverse and multifaceted talents. He made his solo debut as a cellist at the age of 17, and his career took him to roles as principal cello of several orchestras, including the Sydney Symphony where he made his conducting debut in 2018. He’s now Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, but he still finds time to play his cello, and will be performing with SSO Concertmaster Andrew Haveron and ACO Principal Violist Stefanie Farrands for My Gypsy Soul, for two concerts at the Great Synagogue on Tuesday, May 16, thanks to Live at Yours.
In this conversation, Umberto shares some of his incredible musical knowledge and insights, from the broad sweep of how a chief conductor shapes an orchestra, to the detail of interpreting metronome markings, and we hear what a revolution in music sounds like.
One of the most sought-after violists of his generation, Timothy Ridout is appearing this season as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, amongst many others. He’s worked with conductors like Andras Schiff and Christoph Eschenbach, and collaborated with Stephen Isserlis and Joshua Bell. At 27 years of age he’s already recorded five albums and featured on countless others.This interview was recorded while Timothy was at his home in London, but he is now in Australia to perform thanks to Musica Viva, along with flautist Adam Walker and harpist Anneleen Lenaerts.In this conversation, Timothy talks about his journey of discovery with this often neglected instrument, his time in the recording studio and collaborating with some of the greats, and shares some lovely musical works which all have stories behind them.
Australian born composer and pianist Tom Donald is known worldwide for his mesmerizing piano improvisations and award-winning compositions for the stage and screen. The founder of the London Contemporary School of Piano, he’s presented and performed with the BBC, recorded at Abbey Road, and written for the media. He’s not afraid to bend and merge genres, with his latest album, Pax Aeterna, a musical collaboration with the Benedictine monks of Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland, which is available now to buy and stream digitally.
In this conversation, Tom tells the intriguing story of the collaboration with the monks of Pluscarden Abbey, speaks of his musical journey from Coonabarabran to London via a piano bar in Tamworth, and shares some secrets of the art of improvisation.
A much loved pianist who Australia has adopted as one of our own, Ukrainian-born Alexander Gavrylyuk began as a teenage prodigy and has been dazzling audiences around the world ever since. He’s performed at the BBC Proms, Wigmore Hall, the Lincoln Centre, and played with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, and closer to his adopted home he’s recorded all the Prokofiev piano concertos with the Sydney Symphony under Vladimir Ashkenazy.
In this conversation, Alexander shares stories of his upbringing in Ukraine when still part of the USSR, the opportunities that came from coming to Australia, as well as talking about evacuating his father from of Kharkiv in recent months and the devastating invasion which his homeland is currently facing.
Alexander will be performing at the Canberra International Music Festival on May 3, and at the Melbourne Recital Centre on May 5.
Mezzo-soprano Sian Sharp has been singing with Opera Australia for nearly 20 years. Her significant repertoire includes key roles in seminal operas including Il Trovatore, Otello, The Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletto, and Carmen – most recently late last year performing the title role in the much admired production on Cockatoo Island.
And she’s back singing in the open air once again, as the loyal servant and maid Suzuki for the current production of Madama Butterfly on Sydney Harbour. A reviewer from one of her previous portrayals of this role described her performance as “absolute perfection”, and in this conversation Sian talks about the role and her journey to the world of opera, providing us with an understanding of the differences between a mezzo-soprano and soprano voice, and what she loves about being a mezzo.
An acclaimed musician of great versatility, Roland Peelman has established a reputation as one of Australia’s most innovative musical directors. Originally from Belgium, he’s been active in Australia for over 30 years as a conductor, pianist, artistic director and mentor to composers, singers and musicians alike. He’s worked with Opera Australia, been artistic director of The Song Company, and is now artistic director of the Canberra International Music Festival, which is on from the 28th of April until the 7th of May.
In this conversation, Roland shares his ongoing vision for the festival and tells some light-hearted stories from his long career, including from his childhood in a Belgian village learning with the local piano teacher and falling in love with choral music in his boarding school choir.
A man whose name is now synonymous with Australian theatre, David Williamson shot to prominence in the early 70s withDon’s Party and The Removalists and never looked back. He is so prolific that it’s hard to imagine anyone in this country who hasn’t seen one of his works, whether it’s plays like The Club, Emerald City, or Soulmates or his screenplays which include Gallipoli and The Year of Living Dangerously.
His 2010 play Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica is playing now at the Ensemble Theatre, with Glenn Hazeldine and Georgie Parker reprising their roles from the original production. In this conversation, David talks about this production and tells stories from his long and illustrious career, giving some great insights into his writing. He recalls what Australian theatre looked like when he was starting out and how it has developed since.
An actor who has graced the stage both here and internationally, Philip Quast is the winner of three Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, unsurprising when you consider he is widely regarded as the definitive Javert from Les Miserables. He’s also well known for his roles in Sunday in the Park with George, South Pacific and Mary Poppins, and he’s performed innumerable Shakespeare plays plus seminal works such as Death of a Salesman.
He is bringing his one-man show, Philip Quast: The Road I Took, to the intimacy of the Ensemble theatre, for 6 shows only from the 19th to the 29th of March. In this special edition of In Conversation, Philip shares stories from his remarkable life, from his childhood on a farm near Tamworth, the somewhat unorthodox audition technique that secured him the role of Javert, and working with Stephen Sondheim. He also provides fascinating insights about teaching his craft to the next generations of performers at NIDA.
An award winning actor, director, writer and producer, Jay James-Moody has collaborated with an impressive range of Australia’s arts organisations, from Opera Australia to the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and the Sydney Theatre Company to the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, plus New Mardi Gras, to name only a few. He is the founder and artistic director of Squabbalogic, an independent theatre company presenting an eclectic range of new musicals and reinterpretations of established favourites. Their next production is a new take on the 1960s screwball comic gem, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, playing at the Seymour Centre from March 17 to 15 April.
As well as giving us a preview of Squabbalogic’s production of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Squabbalogic's new Australian musical The Dismissal coming later in the year, Jay talks about his unorthodox entry into the theatre world and has some wonderful reflections on working in the industry. We also get to dip into his vast knowledge of musical theatre and he shares some rarities from his collection.
As chief conductor and artistic director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Longueuil in Montreal, violinist Alexandre Da Costa’s multi-dimensional artistic vision has brought him increasing renown. He’s made 25 albums across a number of recording labels, and he’s performed as a soloist with the world’s leading orchestras, such as London’s Royal Philharmonic which included performing as part of Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year, as well as playing with the Berlin, Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, to name just a few. He’s been a regular visitor to Australia, performing with the likes of Musica Viva and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and he’s back in Sydney now to perform his acclaimed and genre-bending Stradivarius BaROCK, plus concerts in Melbourne.
Alex talks about his childhood, which involved playing professional tours internationally at just 11 years old, his passion for music education including how the study of music improves all aspects of your being, and his refreshing take on the breaking of genre boundaries.
Carmel Rodrigues has always loved performing and has been singing, acting and generally dancing up a storm since a very young age. She’s making her professional musical theatre debut as everyone’s favourite nicest kid in town, Tracy Turnblad, in Hairspray, currently playing at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.
In this bonus edition of In Conversation, Tracy talks with excitement about landing her first professional musical roll, working with the star studded cast of this great feel-good musical, plus we hear about her time as a contestant on The Voice.
An edited version of this interview was broadcast on Fine Music Breakfast on 2 March.
Not yet 25 years old, Marie-Ange Nguci has exploded onto the international scene in just the last few years, having performed with Orchestre de Paris, Konzerthausorcheter Berlin, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra to name just a few. She certainly fit the model of a child prodigy, being accepted into the Paris Conservatoire at 13, completing her Master of the Piano at 16, and releasing her first album at 20. She’s coming to Sydney to join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to perform Saint-Saëns Second Piano Concerto from the 8th to the 11th of March at the Sydney Opera House, as well as a solo recital on Monday 6th March at the City Recital Hall Angel Place.
In this conversation, conducted remotely from her home in Paris, Marie-Ange speaks with great warmth and enthusiasm of the repertoire she has chosen for the program, we hear about growing up in her home country of Albania, and the move to Paris at just 13 years old to attend the Paris Conservatoire. Her passion for her music is unparalleled.
A leading Canadian-American cellist, gambist and researcher, Elinor Frey has made numerous recordings, many of which are world premieres and the result of long collaborations with other artists. The artistic director of Accademia de Dissonanti, an organisation for performance and research, she’s performed throughout the world, and is now in Sydney making her Australian debut with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra for a series of concerts entitled Spanish Steps.
Elinor brings a wealth of knowledge and passion about Boccherini as well as lesser known composer Giuseppe Clemente Dall’Abaco, we find out about her remarkable collection of instruments, plus get a greater understanding about just how different cellos can be from one another.
One of Australia’s foremost guitarists, Slava Grigoryan is counted as among the finest musicians of his generation. He appears on a whopping 29 albums and, along with his brother and fellow guitarist Leonard, has won 4 ARIA awards and been nominated for countless more. He’s performed in venues around the world, from London’s Royal Albert Hall to Vienna’s Konzerthaus, and is not afraid to perform all genres.
He and Leonard, along with fellow guitarists Andrew Blanch and Vlad Gorbarch, are launching the Australian Guitar Quartet, performing their first concert at The Great Synagogue, on Tuesday 28 February as part of Live at Yours. Since recording this interview, Live at Yours have scheduled a second concert at The Great Synagogue on Wednesday 1 March.
In this conversation, Slava talks about the impetus behind the Australian Guitar Quartet, shares the story of his parents leaving the USSR when he was a very small child to find a new home in Australia, and has tales from his long and successful career, including working with KD Lang.
One of the most thrilling violinists on the planet, Ilya Gringolts is renowned for his extraordinary technical command and musical sensitivity. He’s equally at home with contemporary and rare works, as much as with the great orchestral masterpieces.
Rising to fame as the youngest ever winner of the Paganini International Violin Competition, he's since appeared with the world’s top orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, to name the tip of the iceberg. He’s in Australia now guest directing the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and in particular to perform one of the Romantic era’s most popular concertos, Bruch's Violin Concerto no 1 in G Minor.
Ilya's passion about new music is well articulated in this conversation, and he also shares an historic recording and talks about what we can learn from it. He speaks against the regime in his native Russia and how life has changed there over the years.
Lebanese-French pianist/composer Rami Khalifé has been hailed as one of the most exciting young composers of the 21st century. His work is as eclectic as it is bold, whether it’s improvised concerts, recording a Prokofiev concerto, or performing with his father, Marcel. His compositions include two piano concertos, a cello concerto, and a requiem, as well as writing for the screen, plus writing and performing with his classic electro group, AUFGANG.
On Monday 6 February he will be performing with his father, fellow composer, and oud player, Marcel Khalifé, for a concert entitled Legacy, in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.
Rami talks about his incredible musical journey, pushing and blurring musical boundaries and giving us an incredibly refreshing and inspiring insight into the joy of music making.
An award-winning director who is taking the Sydney arts scene by storm, Shaun Rennie has received three Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Director, and won the Broadway World Award for Best Direction for both his productions of Rent at the Hayes, and Baby Doll at the Ensemble.
Most recently, he directed the highly acclaimed The Lovers, a musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, produced by Bell Shakespeare, which played to sold-out houses at the Sydney Opera House’s Playhouse late last year. He’s currently the revival director for Opera Australia’s La Bohème which is running until 11 March in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.
In this conversation, Shaun talks about his pathway to becoming a theatre director, sharing stories from his earlier years as a performer, through the tragic loss of his brother to leukemia which inspired him to co-create the annual Light the Night fundraising concert, to his highly successful productions of Rent and The Lovers.
In the final episode for 2022, Simon Moore speaks with a man who has been declared by the National Trust to be a National Living Treasure. Roger Woodward has dazzled audiences for over 60 years here and overseas. A champion of Australian composers, he has performed at the invitation of Sviatoslav Richter, Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit… the list goes on. Performing from New York to LA, from Beijing to Warsaw, he’s also recorded with all the major labels. Based in San Francisco, he’s back in Australia to perform with the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra for their 50thAnniversary Concert, at the Concourse in Chatswood, 3pm on Sunday 11th December.
In this program, Roger tells some remarkable stories from his long career and what he considers his breakthrough concert, and we hear about his passion for contemporary works, plus the role he played in the 1980s supporting the Solidarity movement in Poland. He also speaks eloquently about the works he shares in this program, and his personal relationships with some of the composers.
British keyboardist and director Chad Kelly has a very long list of credits to his name. He has been living in Australia less than two years, but has already performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Victorian Opera, and with the Sydney and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. Earlier this year, he joined Opera Australia. His commitment to historically informed performance practice has led him to perform with Sir John Elliot Gardiner and Trevor Pinnock, and his enduring collaboration with violinist Rachel Podger has recently culminated in them recording an album together of JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations, due for release in 2023.
He will be guest directing the Australian Haydn Ensemble for CPE Bach: Universe of Harmony, their final concert of the year, from the 11th to the 14th of December. In this conversation, Chad gives us a preview of the concert and his unique perspectives on historically informed performance practice, and he shares a diverse selection of works which have played different roles in his life.
Nicholas Hammond first appeared on Broadway at the age of just 11, and his career only opened up further from there, and never stopped. He’s worked all over the world on stage, film and television. He’s been in over 40 films, from Lord of the Flies to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, more than 250 TV shows, most notably the Amazing Spiderman, and he’s made an award winning documentary of the true story behind what is undoubtedly his most celebrated role, one which has given pleasure to millions of people for nearly 60 years – Friedrich von Trapp in the 1965 film The Sound of Music.
The spirits of Rodgers and Hammerstein have visited him once again, as he is currently appearing as the Chamberlain Sebastian in Cinderella, playing now at the Lyric Theatre.
Nicholas shares some amazing stories from all parts of his career, with particular attention paid to The Sound of Music, and his musical selections include some pieces which are very special to him.
An acclaimed actor, director and writer, Jonathan Biggins has entertained audiences for decades with his wit, cheekiness, and a very healthy dose of irreverence. He’s played Peter Sellers, appeared in The Mikado, and directed Australian productions of Avenue Q and Noises Off. But his most well-known work is in political satire, as one of the brains behind, and a performer in, The Wharf Revue, which has been going strong since 2000.
The Wharf Review is back, playing at the Seymour Centre until the 23rd of December, for their new show Looking for Albanese. Jonathan joins Simon Moore to share some stories of the world of satirical comedy from his long career, what’s changed and what hasn’t, the perils of impersonating someone who happens to be sitting in the audience in front of you, and presents a diverse selection of music that he’s encountered in his travels.
Liesel Badorrek is a Sydney based writer, director and performer with a diverse and wide ranging repertoire. She’s a founder of Loose Canon Arts, which has created new work for young people throughout Asia and the Middle East, has directed with the Darlinghurst Theatre and CDP Productions, and keeps thing real as a member of the all-woman comedy cabaret collective Six Quick Chicks. Somehow, she also finds time to work with Opera Australia, and with OA is now directing Carmen on Cockatoo Island, on for a limited season from the 25th of November to the 18th of December.
In this conversation, Liesel lifts the lid on what we can expect from this unique event, and shares some fascinating tales and perspectives from the other parts of her career. Her music selections include some treasured favourites from her present and past.
German baroque violinist Jonas Zschenderlein certainly got off to an early start. He’s been performing with professional ensembles since he was a teenager, around the same time as he began his own ensemble, 4 Times Barque. He’s played all over Europe, Asia and the Americas, from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to Carnegie Hall in New York, and he’s now performing at the City Recital Hall Angel Place, guest directing the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra for Bach’s Universe, until the 11th of November. For Jonas and the ABO, it’s a case of third time lucky, as the concerts have twice had to be cancelled because of Covid.
In this conversation, Jonas shares some of his musical inspirations, some of which come from sources which might surprise. We also hear about his remarkable instrument, the importance of the music of JS Bach, and his early journey to performing the baroque violin.
Photo: Keith Saunders
One of Australia’s greatest writers, David Malouf has been publishing acclaimed novels, short stories, poetry, plays and opera librettos for over 50 years. He’s the recipient of countless awards – most notably the International Dublin Literary Award for Remembering Babylon in 1996, the Australian Prime Minister’s literary award in 2008, and in 2016 the Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature. In the Australia Day 1997 honours he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, for services to literature.
He's also a great lover of fine music, and in this conversation David shares some of his favourite music and what it means to him, talks about his writing and muses on the best ways to teach literature to young children.
This program was recorded at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, where David was both an audience member and also entertaining audiences as part of the Festival’s Conversation series.
Alexander Gadjiev is an exciting young pianist who is making waves across the world. He was the winner of the 2021 Sydney International Piano Competition, second place getter in the International Chopin Competition of the same year, including being awarded the side prize for best performance of a Chopin Sonata, and was the BBC New Generation Artist since 2019.
In this conversation, Alexander gives some amazing insights into the craft of the pianist, introducing historic performances from some of the great pianists of the 20th Century and elaborates on why he favours those older recordings.
He's touring Australia until 13 November, thanks to the Sydney International Piano Competition.
Anyone witness to the Australian theatre scene over the past five decades will know and love Geraldine Turner. Her long and distinguished career, most particularly in musical theatre, includes the original Australian productions of A Little Night Music and Chicago, and she’s also appeared in productions of Company, Oliver, Anything Goes, and The Mikado, to name just a few. She’s been in evergreen shows such as Don’s Party and Present Laughter, and is now appearing in the play which holds the record for having the longest West End run in history. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap opened there in 1952, and it's still running, interrupted only by the temporary shutdown caused by the Covid pandemic. It’s playing now at the Theatre Royal Sydney for a very limited run before touring the rest of Australia.
In this conversation, Geraldine shares some highlights from her incredible career, in particular the original and highly successful Australian run of Chicago, her numerous encounters with the late Stephen Sondheim, and some frank stories from her childhood in Brisbane. Her book, Turner’s Turn, A Disarmingly Honest Memoir, was released earlier this year.
An opera singer with an impressively long and distinguished career, Cheryl Barker has sung some of the key roles in the repertoire, perhaps most famously playing Mimi in Baz Luhrmann’s production of Puccini’s La Bohème, her incredible performances of Tosca, and creating the role of Sarah Miles in Jake Heggie’s The End of the Affair, in Houston. She and her husband, baritone Peter Coleman-Wright will be joining the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs under artistic director Brett Weymark for Glorious Puccini in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on October 29.
In this conversation, Cheryl speaks about her love of Puccini, shares some wonderful tales from her impressive career, and fills us in about Pacific Opera, the emerging artists program for young opera singers of which she is co-artist director along with Peter Coleman-Wright.
To paraphrase The New York Times – the words “superstar” and “mandolinist” have not traditionally been seen together in the same sentence. However that has changed thanks to Avi Avital. He’s the first mandolin soloist to be nominated for a classical Grammy Award and is a driving force behind the reinvigoration of the mandolin repertoire. Over 100 compositions have been written especially for him, including 15 concertos. He’s played in all corners of the world, and has released 5 albums plus an EP on the Deutsche Grammophon label.
Avi talks about his remarkable journey with the mandolin, from his early lessons in southern Israel from a teacher who was self-taught on the instrument, to having the chutzpah to dig into his own savings to record his first album in Berlin. He introduces a number of works that he especially wanted to share for this conversation, including a performance from one of his mentors, which is not available in Australia.
He is currently touring Australia with Musica Viva.
Photo: Guy Hecht
A remarkable violinist who has had an extraordinary career across three continents, Charmian Gadd started in humble beginnings on a farm on the Central Coast in the 1940s. She exploded onto the music scene as a teenager, and went on to play with such luminaries as Yehudi Menuhin and Neville Marriner, living in the UK and the USA before coming back to Australia in the late 80s. Her contribution to music has not just been as a performer, having also held positions at the Canberra School of Music and the Sydney Conservatorium. She turned 80 in January this year, which ended up being an extra special birthday as she was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia for services to music in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
Charmian tells some wonderful stories from her long and remarkable career, and provides some lovely choices of music including from performers who were key inspirations in her professional development.
Naseema Sparks is an experienced company director whose passion for the arts led her to take on key leadership roles at board level in organisations such as the Sydney Biennale and the Sydney Dance Company. Now chair of Sydney Living Museums and Music in the Regions, one of our newest arts organisations, she has said “the arts is my balance, it’s good for the soul”, which is a sentiment we can all agree with! In this conversation, Naseema speaks about the works of Sydney Living Museums and Music in the Regions, her passion for Australian composers, and how she became involved with the arts at board level. Her musical selections include a rarity from Sydney’s colonial past – just a small part of the ongoing projects conducted by SLM.
Lyndon Terracini has certainly left his mark on Australian opera – and he’s not done yet. He has been Artistic Director of Opera Australia since 2009, however his association with opera goes back decades, having first appeared with the company as a baritone in the 1970s. His operatic career took him to his ancestral home of Italy, though he made frequent visits back to Australia to perform here too.
Lovers of opera will be aware that he’s about to embark on his final year as Opera Australia's artistic director. The 2023 season has just launched, and Lyndon joins Simon Moore to give a preview of the season, plus share some remarkable tales of his transformative years at Opera Australia and his career as an opera singer. He also eloquently introduces his music selections, which include some seminal performances from some of history's best singers.
For Eric Whitacre, everything seems possible. The music of this Grammy-award winning composer and conductor has been performed in all corners of the world. He has united 100,000 singers in more than 145 countries for his ground breaking Virtual Choirs, his debut album as a conductor, Light and Gold, went straight to the top of the charts, and he’s even collaborated with NASA – his composition Deep Field having been inspired by the Hubble Telescope, leading him to work on a film seen at arts and science festivals across the globe.
In this conversation, Eric talks about The Sacred Veil, which he is coming to Australia to conduct with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs at the Sydney Opera House. We also hear insights about his composing and his unorthodox entry into the classical genre, the Virtual Choirs projects, his public speaking, plus he eloquently introduces a diverse selection of pieces which have inspired him over the years.
Photo: Marc Royce
One of Australia’s most celebrated violinists, Brendan Joyce is the artistic director of Camerata, Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. His leadership has been described by critics as both dynamic and indefatigable, which is why it’s unsurprising he often appears around Australia with such organisations as the Orchestra of the Antipodes, Van Diemen's Band, and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
In this conversation, Brendan talks about helping to rebuild and reinvigorate Camerata under his leadership, with diverse and ground-breaking repertoire, including new Australian commissions. He also shares some amusing stories of his upbringing in regional Queensland and his period in the United States.
A violinist who has performed on every continent, Adelaide-born Daniel Dodds is the Artistic Director of Festival Strings Lucerne. He’ll be back in Australia to appear as Concertmaster of the Australian World Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, for performances in Melbourne and Sydney. It is said he elicits “joie de vivre” from fellow musicians and audiences alike, which is apparent in the positivity he expresses about his playing and the repertoire he’s chosen to share with us in this conversation, which includes several private recordings of his past performances.
Australian soprano Amy Manford has already played Christine Daaé in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera on the West End and in Athens, and is about to appear in the upcoming production at the Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre in Melbourne.
She also co-runs MM Creative Productions, which produced Disney in Concert A Dream is a Wish, in Perth last year in which she also appeared.
An edited version of this conversation was broadcast on Fine Music Breakfast on 11 August, however as Amy was so delightful to speak with, the interview went overtime, so the complete interview appears here as an In Conversation bonus episode.
The musical theatre scene in Australia and around the world owes a great deal to Guy Simpson. He has been supervising productions of The Phantom of the Opera for over 30 years around the world, from South Africa to New Zealand, Brazil to the Philippines. He has a similarly long association with productions of Miss Saigon, and has been instrumental in countless others – from the larger scale, like Evita and West Side Story, to the intimate, such as Anna O’Byrne’s recent one woman show Becoming Eliza, who was a guest on In Conversation back in May.
Fresh from being conductor of the recent Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of Phantom, he’s music supervisor of the upcoming production inside the Opera House, which begins on 19 August. Guy gives us a preview of the production, and tells some fascinating stories from the rest of his incredible career.
This week, In Conversation is on tour, coming to you from the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, in Townsville.
The Festival’s new Artistic Director is British/German Violinist Jack Liebeck. His music ranges from the intricacy of Mozart through to the passion of contemporary Australian works by Brett Dean. He’s on a whopping 17 albums, including playing on the film scores of Jane Eyre and Anna Karenina, has a keen interest in science to the extent that he’s collaborated with Professor Brian Cox, and he’s been described as possessing “flawless technical mastery”.
Jack shares with Simon Moore his vision of the Festival, taking to the violin as a natural which had him playing Paganini concertos within a couple of years, plus some fascinating thoughts on performance and bringing classical music to a wide audience.
Photo: Andrew Rankin
An actor whose career on the stage, film and television is approaching half a century and still going strong, Simon Burke burst onto the scene in the highly acclaimed Devil’s Playground at the age of 13. He won the AFI Award for Best Actor for that performance – still to this day the youngest person to receive that honour. His career since has included appearances on television which are embedded in the Australian psyche – from The Sullivans through to Rake and everything in between, including the remarkable Brides of Christ, and of course Play School. He has a long list of stage credits here and overseas, in both straight and musical theatre – as Marius in the original Australian run of Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera on the West End, and other musical theatre mainstays such as The Sound of Music and A Little Night Music. He’s currently in what could be regarded as the hottest show in town, appearing as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge, playing now at the Capitol Theatre.
Hayden Tee is not just a triple threat, he’s more of a quadruple one – an actor, singer, make-up artist, and also now a director. He knows a thing or two about musical theatre, having played Javert in Les Misérables in multiple countries, including on the West End, Broadway and on these shores. He’s appeared in Matilda, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, and Into the Woods, to name just a few, his cabaret shows have been a hit in New York and in Australia, and he’s released three albums. Based in New York, Hayden is in Sydney to direct the musical Jekyll and Hyde, on at the Hayes Theatre from the 29th of July.
In this conversation, Hayden talks about his innovative staging of Jekyll and Hyde including his incredible cast, and takes us on his journey into singing and musical theatre with an infectious positivity and "can do" attitude.
One of Australia’s most beloved and renowned pianists, Simon Tedeschi has played with all the major Australian orchestras, and is a seasoned chamber musician and collaborator too. He’s recorded a vast swath of albums covering music from JS Bach and Domenico Scarlatti to Mark Isaacs and Mike Nock, with a decent chunk of George Gershwin too. He’s also a writer, with his first book, Fugitive, published in May, simultaneous with winning the Calibre Essay prize for his essay This Woman, My Grandmother.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Simon discusses his writing, including the award-winning essay about his late grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, and reveals what it’s like to learn more about a loved one after their death than was ever known while they were still alive. Also, he compares his writing with his music, and how his early experiences as a proclaimed child prodigy began to shape his psyche and his career.
Simon is one of the 2MBS Fine Music Sydney artistic patrons, and is a long-time friend of the station.
Australia’s foremost Indigenous classical composer and performer, William Barton has performed internationally with the London and Berlin Philharmonia Orchestras, and in this country with all the premier orchestras. From Kalkadunga heritage, he has vastly expanded the horizons of the didgeridoo with his prodigious musicality.
Simon Moore speaks to William as part of NAIDOC Week 2022. William shares insights about the importance of the instrument and how it varies in different parts of the country. He also talks about his experiences in the classical music industry and the importance his family had on his musical development, including his uncle who introduced him to the instrument. Listen out for his special live performance in the studio!
American soprano Leah Crocetto continues to astonish audiences with her moving portrayals of opera’s greatest heroines. She has performed across America, in such seminal operas as Turandot, Otello and Norma, in venues from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Centre to the Metropolitan Opera. She’s also sung the title role of Aida with Opera Australia, and is about to appear as Leonora in Il Trovatore.
Leah has a particular love of music and shares some works that are very special to her which provide a soundtrack to her life. She speaks about her special relationship with her family which was vital to her path in becoming an opera star, and delights with stories from her career.
Making his film debut in Wolf Creek 2, Philippe Klaus has been in such Australian dramas as Rake and Home & Away. He’s appeared on stage with the Old Fitz Theatre, and toured his one man show with the Adelaide and Melbourne Fringe Festivals. His next gig, though, is a bit of a contrast – appearing in the title role in Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, the next show from Endangered Production, from June 30 to July 3 at the Paddington RSL. It’s to be performed as it was meant to be – with singers, actors, dancers and a 30 piece orchestra – promising romance, sin, salvation, and some heavenly music.
Philippe talks with Simon Moore about the upcoming production of Peer Gynt and shares great insights into acting for the different mediums of theatre, film and television, the extra skills one can acquire along the way, plus his love of jazz.
A much-loved cellist who Australia has adopted from his native Finland, Timo-Veikko Valve (known as Tipi) came to this country to become principal cellist of the Australian Chamber Orchestra 16 years ago, a position he has held ever since. He spreads his wings far beyond the ACO, making frequent guest appearances with chamber groups across the country, and of course has played across Europe, North America and Asia. He'll be featured as a soloist in the upcoming ACO tour titled simple “Bach”, and has been very busy in the recording studio too.
In this conversation, Tipi shares his thoughts on some of his favourite works, including sharing some unreleased recordings. He also talks about the complex task of making recordings of his music and the joys of the Finnish sauna experience!
Internationally renowned clarinettist David Rowden has performed throughout Europe, Asia, North America, as well as Australia. Not content with being just a soloist, he founded the Omega Ensemble, championing Australian musical talent, and has picked up plenty of APRA/AMCOS classical music nominations along the way. His playing has been described by critics as possessing “superb technique and artistry”.
In this conversation with Simon Moore, David talks about his earlier career, and also takes a deep dive into CoLAB, the program which the Omega Ensemble has created for early-career composers to obtain direct industry experience in collaboration with the musicians of Omega Ensemble, and under the mentorship of leading professional composers.
Through the Sydney Art Quartet, founder James Beck connects audiences with layered, multi-sensory experiences based on live music woven with contrasting art forms and the wider world of history, arts & sciences. In the pursuit of that goal, he’s performed over 150 original Art Quartet shows with a cross section of some of Australia’s most vibrant creative voices. Previously the Artistic Manager of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, he is well versed in bringing historic music artefacts to contemporary relevance.
In this conversation, James demonstrates his ability to make the most complex and esoteric of ideas engaging and accessible, sharing witty and erudite stories of the art of creating and sharing music.
Julia Fredersdorff is a violinist who has planted her flag very firmly with the Baroque violin – so much so, that she was the first student at the Victorian College of the Arts to study the instrument, separate from the modern violin. After a period in Europe playing with some of their finest ensembles, she returned to Australia to found the perfectly titled Van Diemen’s Band, as well as playing frequently as concertmaster with the Orchestra of the Antipodes, period string quartet Ironwood and baroque trio Latitude 37. In June, she is making a guest appearance with Bach Akadamie Australia.
In this conversation, Julia shares some delightfully light-hearted stories about what attracted her to the Baroque violin, the formation of Van Diemen's Band, and gives great insights into music of the era and performance technique.
A multi-award winning actress, Anne Wood has been strutting the stage both here and overseas in musical theatre for over 30 years. Whether it’s Cats or Mamma Mia, Crazy for You or The Sound of Music, she’s covered the full spectrum of what the genre has to offer. Melbourne based, she’s currently in Sydney playing Madame Baurel in An American in Paris, now playing at the Theatre Royal.
Anne shares plenty of fun stories about her love of theatre and working in the industry, from her start in the 1980s in Cats, to the joys of the music of ABBA in Mamma Mia, in which she played the lead role of Donna for a total of three years across several productions.
A soprano and actress who has established an international career spanning opera, theatre, concert and film, Anna O’Byrne has performed with the likes of Anthony Warlow and Emma Thompson, sung for Charles and Camilla, and appeared in everything from West Side Story to Barnum, and Guys and Dolls to A Little Night Music. But her most well known role on these shores was as Eliza Doolittle in the 60th Anniversary production of My Fair Lady, at the Sydney Opera House, for which she won the Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Musical. Anna appears at the Playhouse of the Sydney Opera House in her own one-woman show, Becoming Eliza, from 9-12 June.
In this conversation, Anna shares stories of working with and learning from her childhood idol Julie Andrews, her remarkable start in The Phantom of the Opera, only a few weeks after finished her degree, plus being part of the recreation of the role of Christine Daaé for Love Never Dieswhen it got its second start in Melbourne.
An internationally acclaimed playwright, screenwriter, director, novelist and actor, not to mention cultural icon and activist, Leah Purcell stands at the forefront of the Indigenous cultural renaissance and protest movement. A proud Goa-Gungarri-Wakka Wakka Murri woman, she is well known to audiences in Australia and around the world for her many roles, including in Wentworth, Redfern Now, Jindabyne and Lantana. In this conversation, Leah takes a deep dive with Simon Moore into her new film, The Drover’s Wife the Legend of Molly Johnson, which is in cinemas from 5 May.
Leah talks fondly about her mother reading the original Henry Lawson short story to her as a child, and she gives incredible insights into her inspiration and the creation of the film, which she developed from her own play and novel. She often talks emotionally and with great candour about her own experiences and those of her family, which informed the expansion of the story from the original.
Brisbane born Francesca Hiew was quite the child prodigy. Her career took her to the United States at the age of just 9 and in her later studies she won every chamber music competition she entered – often twice! She’s appeared as soloist with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria, was part of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and is now one quarter of the Australian String Quartet.
Francesca speaks with Simon Moore about her intensely musical upbringing, her love of chamber music, and how she learnt that sometimes it’s possible to practice too much.
Photo credit: Jacqui Way
A sought-after specialist in baroque and classical period violin in Australia, Skye McIntosh is the founder, artistic director and principle violin of the Australian Haydn Ensemble. For the last decade, they’ve made their mark on historically informed performance practice in this country.
Skye speaks with Simon Moore about one of Haydn’s greatest works, The Creation, and talks about her own journey falling in love with period instruments and performance practice which led to the birth of the Australian Haydn Ensemble.
One of Australia’s most distinguished violinists, Dene Olding has a long history with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, having been their Concertmaster for two separate stints. He’s performed as a concerto soloist in Australia and internationally, whether it be performing the great concertos of the past or premiering new works. A member of the Australia Ensemble, he’s also first violinist of the renowned Goldner String Quartet.
In this conversation, Simon Moore speaks with Dene about his long career after growing up in a household with two professional pianists. He also shares touching memories of his father, Max Olding, who passed away in late 2021.
Photo credit: Keith Saunders
A celebrated actor and director, John Bell has been a driving force in the shape and direction of Australian Theatre for more than half a century. A former Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK, he’s performed all of Shakespeare’s seminal roles, often several times over. He’s also formed two theatre companies, one of which still bears his name.
In this conversation, John Bell shares with Simon Moore some of the highlights of his long and distinguished career, the evolution of Australian theatre and the ever-changing craft of acting, plus provides an insight into what drew him as a teenager to William Shakespeare and why his works are so important to modern audiences.
Photo: Pierre Toussaint
A composer across a full spectrum of genres, Christopher Gordon has written for Australia’s leading orchestras, for major events such as the 2006 Commonwealth Games, has penned ballets, and scores for films such as Master and Commander, Mao’s Last Dancer and Ladies in Black.
In this program, Christopher talks candidly with Simon Moore about his unorthodox entry into composing after recovering from alcoholism in his early adulthood, the ins and outs of writing music for the screen, as well as his new album with the simple and elegant title “Chamber Music”.
An exciting and dynamic young conductor, Leonard Weiss has made a name for himself with the Canberra Sinfonia, and the Sydney, Queensland and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, to name just a few. He’s the inaugural winner of the Conductor NSW Orchestral Early Career Fellowship with the Sydney Youth Orchestras in conjunction with Create NSW, and was recognised as the “rising star of 2020” by John Hopkins University during his time there.
Leonard is incredibly articulate and entertaining, talking about his artistic development with good humour, including his time with one of his mentors, Marin Alsop, when he was the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Peabody Fellow.
He made the role of Lola in Kinky Boots his own, performing it on three continents, including on Broadway and the West End, and winning a Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical for his performance on these shores. He’s also appeared in such seminal musicals as Rent, The Lion King and Miss Saigon.
Callum features as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, on Sydney Harbour from March 25. He speaks candidly about the importance of being a person of colour cast as the romantic lead, and the charity We the Industry that he and his fiancé Ainsley Melham have set up to help promote greater representation and inclusion in the Australian theatre industry. We also hear the extraordinary story of his time playing Lola in Kinky Boots – hang onto your hats for his fantastic rendition of The Land of Lola!
One of Australia’s leading harpists, Emily Granger has performed across the world, including as Principal Harp of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Sydney, Tasmanian & Canberra Symphony Orchestras. She’s played for presidents and prime ministers, presented recitals from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall, and performed with international artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Jonas Kaufmann.
Simon Moore speaks with Emily about her new solo album “In Transit”, and we delve into her time growing up in Missouri and learning from some of the harp world’s greatest, gaining some insights into this beautiful instrument. Bring your hiking shoes – she does love a good walk!
A regular director with Opera Australia, Constantine Costi was responsible last year for the triumphant production of La Traviata on Sydney Harbour. He’s worked with other leading Australian arts companies including Pinchgut Opera and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and is co-artistic director of Red Line Productions at Sydney’s Old Fitz. Simon Moore speaks with Con in the lead up to him taking on Halevy’s La Juive with Opera Australia, to be performed on these shores for the first time. As well as giving some insights into this opera, he talks about his next show with Red Line, Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins & Mahagonny Songspiel,andshares stories from the earlier period of his career, creating guerrilla productions of operas in Newtown, plus his handy abilities with a fish and a filleting knife.
La Juive is on at the Sydney Opera House from 9 to 26 March.
The Seven Deadly Sins & Mahagonny Songspiel is on at the Old Fitz Theatre from 31 March to 23 April.
Multi-Helpmann Award winner Amber McMahon plays Eve Kendall, one of the ultimate Hitchcock Femme Fatales, in the stage adaptation of North by Northwest at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre from the 9th of March. In this conversation, Simon Moore takes Amber on a deep dive into her 20 year stage career and delve into the craft of acting. She’s worked with Cate Blanchett, picnicked at Hanging Rock, and climbed Mount Rushmore in high heels.
He is a conductor who has fast established himself as a versatile artist covering the symphonic, operatic and ballet genres. He’s made a splash in Europe with such orchestras as the Mariinsky, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, and the Odessa National Philharmonic. He and his wife, soprano Eleanor Lyons, have more recently created Live at Yours, an exciting and ever growing project, bringing top quality artists to unique and intimate settings.
Vladimir speaks with Simon Moore about the creation and development of Live at Yours, regales us with tales of studying in St Petersburg and working with luminaries like Simone Young and Iván Fischer, plus providing some significant insights into the creative process.
This episode is an extended version of the broadcast edition, with additional interview content.
Jeanell Carrigan is an Associate Professor in the Collaborative Piano Unit at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has performed throughout Australia and Europe as a soloist, chamber musician and collaborative duo partner. Her area of research is Australian solo piano repertoire and more recently in the piano music composed by early 20th Century Australian women composers. She’s released 32 albums of solo Australian piano and chamber works and has written several books.
In this conversation, Jeanell speaks with Simon Moore in depth about her most recent project – the recording and publication of the first four piano trios written in Australia, by Australian composers, entitled Music for The Salon Trio.
He is a man who has entertained Australia for over 30 years. He’s danced on film in Strictly Ballroom, stepped into stilettos for the Rocky Horror Picture Show, donned top hat and whip for a tightrope-walking PT Barnum, and everything in between – including West Side Story, Singing in the Rain, The Pirates Penzance, Cabaret, and Anything Goes. But perhaps his most well-known performance has been to bring entertainer Peter Allen back to life in the original Australian production of The Boy from Oz.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Todd speaks with Simon Moore about these varied roles, plus his start in show business, being a judge on Dancing with the Stars, as well as some of the parts he’s enjoyed a bit less than others.
(Originally aired in September 2021)
It’s difficult to find a more well-rounded musician than violinst Henning Kraggerud. The Norwegian virtuoso has had a career that covers everything – a soloist, composer, arranger, improviser, plus he’s the Artistic Director of the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.
The discussion, from when he was visiting Australia in 2017 to guest direct the Australian Chamber Orchestra, provides some fascinating insights into his multi-faceted approach to music-making in his composing, arranging and improvising.
(Originally aired in September 2021)
If you’ve ever had the chance to see Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto perform live, you’ll know he is quite the entertainer. It’s been said that he strips every piece, however familiar it is, back to first principles, and we get to hear it as if for the first time.
At the time of this conversation in 2016, he had just been appointed artistic director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s emerging artists ensemble – ACO Collective – a position he held until 2019.
A great friend of Australia and of the ACO, Pekka is always an absolute joy to talk to. In this program, he gets out his violin in the studio to underscore some of his points, and we even get a live performance of a Finnish folk tune.
(Originally aired in September 2021)
Olli Mustonen is music's ultimate triple threat – a virtuosic pianist, an extraordinary conductor, and an outstanding composer. He speaks to host Simon Moore about his start playing the harpsichord from the age of 5 in his native Finland, as well as sharing a story about a misprint in a program which led to him to having to rearrange one of his chamber works for full orchestra, and how he prefers the simple word “musician” to cover his many talents.
This conversation is from 2016 when he was visiting Australia to guest direct the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
(Originally aired in July 2021)
Dean Bryant is a multi-award winning theatre director and writer. He has a string of directorial credits, including (with the Melbourne Theatre Company, where he was associate director from 2016 thru 2019): The Lady in the Van and An Ideal Husband; for Opera Australia Anything Goes; and for the Hayes he directed Assassins, as well as their debut production Sweet Charity, for which he won the Helpmann award for 'Best Director of a Musical', and to top it all off, he’s the worldwide Associate Director of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
His creativity doesn’t stop with direction, as he’s the co-writer of the musical version of Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career, as well as many others. He's currently in Sydney directing Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, which will be back at the Hayes Theatre at the conclusion of the present lockdown.
(Originally aired in June 2021)
Shane Placentino has made the move from ballet dancer, to choreographer, and now opera director. He began his career with the Australian Ballet in 1991, dancing the entire classical and contemporary repertoire. He went on to be with the Sydney Dance Company from 2002, but more recently he’s hung up his dance shoes and moved into direction with Opera Australia - currently being the Revival Director for Aida, which opened at the Sydney Opera House on 22 June, and is due to return again after the current lockdown.
(Originally aired in June 2021)
Sam Allchurch is at the forefront of the next generation of choral music. In 2019 he became artistic director of the Sydney Chamber Choir at just 29, following in the footsteps of the late, great Richard Gill. He’s also Associate Artistic Director of Gondwana Choirs, and Director of Music at Christ Church St Lawrence which has a musical tradition going all the way back to 1845. He’s been praised for polished and deeply satisfying performances of smart and sophisticated programs.
(Originally aired in June 2021)
Natalie Aroyan is an Armenian-Australian soprano whose voice has graced the stages of Opera Australia as a principal artist since 2013. She has performed leading roles in Aida, La Boheme, Ernani, and Carmen to name just a few.
In 2019 she was nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role, and later this month, she will be hitting the stage once again as Odabella in Attila, Verdi’s story of Attila the Hun.
(Originally aired in June 2021)
Neal Peres Da Costa is Australia’s authority in historically informed performance on the keyboard. Whether it’s the harpsichord, fortepiano or organ, Neal has performed with all of this country’s leading ensembles, including the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Haydn Ensemble, the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, and several of the top orchestras in this area internationally, most notably the Academy of Ancient Music and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. This month, he’ll be performing with Bach Akadamie Australia for JS Bach’s Obligato Sonatas.
Neal talks us through the art and the science that is “historically informed performance”, how he came to be a passionate advocate for it, and the various historic keyboards he’s collected over the years.
(Originally aired in June 2021)
It’s 35 years since The Phantom of the Opera opened on London’s West End, making it one of the most successful musicals of all time. It was still playing there until COVID hit early last year, where Australian Josh Piterman was performing in the title role.
Josh Piterman will be donning that famous mask once again in September, this time at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House. Kicking off his career in The Ten Tenors, he’s appeared in musicals as diverse as West Side Story, Hairspray and Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, as well as having an Aria and iTunes number 1 album.
(Originally aired in May 2021)
Alexander Briger is a conductor who has worked with more orchestras than can be easily listed – pick an orchestra in Australia or Europe, and you can be pretty certain he has conducted them, and that’s before you start adding his work in opera. He counts luminaries like Charles Mackerras and Pierre Boulez among his mentors. Alexander is back in Australia to once again conduct his brain child, the Australian World Orchestra, this June.
In 2016, Alexander became an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished services to the arts as a leading conductor, and as founder of the Australian World Orchestra.
(Originally aired in May 2021)
Amy Campbell is one of Australia’s most accomplished dance talents, with a career spanning all areas of the entertainment industry. Her choreographic credits include 'Once', which is returning to the Darlinghurst Theatre from 3 June, 'In The Heights', 'Violet', 'Hair', 'An Act Of God', 'Spring Awakening', 'Oklahoma', and 'Carmen'.
Later in the year, her new production of 'A Chorus Line' is back after being suspended on the day of the premiere last year due to Covid lockdowns. She is also the Resident Director of Sydney’s production of Hamilton, the only production of this ground breaking show currently playing anywhere in the world.
(Originally aired in May 2021)
Noel Cislowski has a long and rich career as a teacher, lecturer, actor, producer, conductor and director. He has performed lead roles in musical comedy, and has appeared as narrator/singer in works such as Peter And The Wolf and Tubby the Tuba with the Sydney Symphony and Willoughby Symphony Orchestras. His passion for education is perhaps best expressed by the fact he is Chair of the Sydney Eisteddfod, one of the largest and most successful competitive performing arts festivals of its type in the world. In 2016, he became a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the performing arts and community organisations.
(Originally aired in May 2021)
Violinist Belinda McFarlane is a stalwart with the London Symphony Orchestra. She’s come back to Australia to play with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and in June will be appearing with the Australian World Orchestra.
She spoke to Simon with great passion about her role with the LSO’s Discover Team, which includes outreach into disadvantaged communities, helping to ensure that everyone can share in the joy of music.
(Originally aired in April 2021)
Van-Anh Nguyen is a passionate and versatile pianist, producer, composer – and fashionista! She’s performed around the world and released 8 albums, topped the classical iTunes chart in both the US and Australia, and spends most of her time between her home town of Sydney and her adopted second home of Los Angeles. Van-Anh chatted to Simon ahead of her Australia-wide tour.
(Originally aired in April 2021)
Richard Carroll is a Sydney based director, writer and producer.
One of the co-founders of the Hayes Theatre, his 2017 production of Calamity Jane won him a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Production of an Independent Musical, and a nomination as Best Director.
His directing and producing credits also include Monty Python’s Spamalot, Oklahoma!, Gypsy, Sweet Charity, Mame, and Meet Me in St Louis. In 2019, his season of Once at the Darlinghurst Theatre Company was a sold out success, and is now making a return to Darlinghurst’s Eternity Playhouse from the 8th of June before embarking on a national tour.
(Originally aired in April 2021)
Derek Parker has been a presenter at Fine Music Sydney for over 15 years, but his career in radio is far longer than that. He’s been a figure in broadcasting on radio and television for a staggering 70 years, but as if that’s not enough he’s also written over 50 books - covering topics as diverse as the golden years of radio and erotic fiction. But sadly for us here at Fine Music Sydney, he and his wife Julia have decided to return to their native Britain. He will much missed, both on air and off.
(Originally aired in April 2021)
Francesco Ventriglia is a dancer, choreographer and artistic director. Making his premiere at La Scala, he’s performed with the Bolshoi Theatre, the Mariinsky Ballet, Grand Theatre du Geneve, the Venice Biennale. He became Europe’s youngest artistic director in 2010 when he was appointed by the Florence Opera House, and was the artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet during the middle of the last decade.
He’s now in Sydney as the co-founder and artistic director of the Sydney Choreographic Centre, which was launched in March, and has its premier performance this month at the Parramatta Riverside Theatres.
(Originally aired in April 2021)
Geoffrey Chard AM is a doyen of the opera world. He was part of the inaugural production of the Australian Elizabethan Trust Opera Company – the forerunner to Opera Australia – back in 1956. He never looked back, performing regularly with the Royal Opera Company at Covent Garden, the English National Opera as well as Opera Australia. In 1988 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to opera, and late last year celebrated his 90th birthday.
In this episode, Geoffrey regales us with tales of his long and rich career.
(Originally aired in March 2021)
Madeleine Easton is a violinist internationally recognised for her versatility and expertise.
She’s appeared as a soloist, concertmaster and director of some of the world’s most respected ensembles and orchestras. Her mentor John Eliot Gardiner described her as having “fire in her belly and a spirit of enterprise” – which probably helps to explain why she is now the founder and artistic director of one of Australia’s newest orchestras, Bach Akademie Australia.
(Originally aired in March 2021)
Brian Castles-Onion is one of Australia’s most exciting and well-known opera conductors. His career expands internationally, having worked at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and the Julliard School of Music. His love of opera began when he was just 4 years old, at which point his weekly accumulation of new LPs began, creating what is now one of the largest private collections of vocal recordings in the world.
He’s worked with Sumi Jo, Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo, and in March and April 2021 he’s conducting La Traviata’s triumphant return to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.
This episode is an extended version of the broadcast edition, with additional interview content.
(Originally aired in March 2021)
Paul Stanhope is an Australian composer whose compositions have been heard all around the world. The winner of 4 APRA Australian Music Centre awards in instrumental, orchestral, choral and vocal categories, his 2014 work "Jandamarra: Sing for the Country" has been recognised as a milestone in Australian composition.
Paul joined Simon Moore ahead of the premiere of his new masterwork, his Requiem, at the City Recital Hall.
(Originally aired in March 2021)
Susie Park is a violinist hailed by the Washington Post as "prodigiously talented", and praised for her freedom and mastery. She's been a soloist with countless orchestras around the world, from the Vienna Symphony to the orchestra Wellington, working with some of the world's best conductors.
She's also spread her wings widely in the chamber music genre, being a former violinist with the Eroica trio, a member of CMS Two, and performing with many other chamber groups around the world.
(Originally aired in February 2021)
Emma Dunch made her name in the arts sector in New York, and returned to Australia in 2018 to become CEO of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Emma joined Simon Moore to talk about the challenges of having to temporarily vacate their home at the Sydney Opera House - as well as the current pandemic - but also the exciting new era for the orchestra as they welcome Simon Young as chief conductor and their plans for their 10th decade.
(Originally aired in February 2021)
Clarinettist Nicole van Bruggen is co-artistic director of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. She is a leader in the art of historically informed performance, and has performed extensively with some of Europe and Australia’s finest period instrument ensembles, including Concerto Copenhagen, the Netherlands Bach Society and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
This episode is an extended version of the broadcast edition, with additional interview content.
(Originally aired in February 2021)
Alexander Berlage is an award-winning theatre director and lighting designer. His production of American Psycho won 9 Sydney Theatre Awards, including Best Direction of a Musical, an award he had also won the previous year.
Alexander joined Simon Moore to talk about his creative process and his work, including his upcoming production of Young Frankenstein at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney.
(Originally aired in February 2021)
Guy Noble is one of Australia’s most versatile conductors and musical entertainers; not only has he worked with all the major Australian orchestras, but also with artists as diverse as Yvonne Kenny and the Beach Boys.
He’s also a broadcaster on the ABC, BBC, and the QANTAS in-flight classical channel.
Guy joined Simon Moore to kick off the 2021 season of In Conversation.
(Originally aired in December 2020)
Brett Weymark is one of the foremost choral conductors in Australia. Since becoming music director of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs in 2003, he’s conducted the Choirs in performances around Australia and all around the world. He’s led all of Australia's state orchestras, as well as the Orchestra of the Antipodes, Sydney Youth Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.
Brett joined Simon Moore for a very special edition of In Conversation - helping us celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven
(Originally aired in August 2019)
Mike Nock is an internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, and music educator. After spending some 25 years in the USA, he returned to Australia in the 1980s and has made an enormous contribution to the Australian music scene ever since.
In July 2018 he was struck by a car and spent many weeks in hospital before returning to performing. Mike joined Christopher Waterhouse to discuss his background in music, his international jazz career, and the role that music played in his recovery.
(Originally aired in September 2020)
Louise Herron has been at the helm of the Sydney Opera House since 2012, having previously been a lawyer and corporate adviser. She was chair of Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre for 10 years and has led the development of the Opera House’s renewal program including major upgrades to the venues and facilities of one of the world’s most iconic buildings.
Louise joined Christopher Waterhouse to share some of the music that inspires her and some of the stories of her life and career - taking us behind the scenes of the Opera House to discover more about the vital but often hidden work that goes on behind the scenes.
(Originally aired in October 2020)
David Drury is one of Australia's most acclaimed organists, known especially for his talents in improvisation. He is the only Australian organist to have won the prestigious "Tournemire prize" for improvisation at the St Alban's International Organ Competition. He has given recitals around the world including at Notre Dame and La Madeleine in Paris, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral in London, and has appeared many times at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Town Hall. He is currently the Director of Music at St Paul's College within the University of Sydney and has published a large number of compositions for choirs through "Crescendo Music".
(Originally aired in August 2020)
Emma Pask has firmly established herself as one of Australia's favourite voices in jazz, and has toured with her band across the country as well as throughout Europe and Asia. For many years she has worked alongside James Morrison, who says of Emma, "whilst it's fashionable to be a jazz singer these days, she is the real thing."
As Emma prepared to perform to live audiences again following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, she spent an hour sharing the music that inspires her, and the story of her life and career to date.
(Originally Aired in January 2020) The Honourable Michael Kirby is an international jurist, educator and former Judge. He served as Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1996 to 2009. He is recognised internationally for his work for Human Rights which earned him the Australian Human Rights medal, Laurette of the UNESCO price for Human Rights Education and co winner of the Gruber Justice prize. He joined Christopher Waterhouse to discuss his early life and influences and his thoughts for the future.